Ireland’s schools have been at the front line of the national effort to integrate tens of thousands of Ukrainians who have come to the State after fleeing the war in their country.
Some 33,000 Ukrainians have come here since the Russian invasion in late February, and nowhere have the effects of that migration been more apparent than in the State’s classrooms. As of late May, some 918 schools had been approved for additional teachers or teaching hours to support them in their work with Ukrainian children.
Correspondence between school principals and the Department of Education, released under the Freedom of Information Act and outlined in this newspaper, highlights the flexibility and resourcefulness of school staff in adapting to the arrival of so many newcomers in the middle of the school year.
But the documents also underline the pressures that have arisen as a result. One school said the enrolment of 25 Ukrainian children had almost doubled its total numbers to 53 and reported that this was having a “huge impact” on the school’s finances. In another school, numbers rose by 21 per cent in a matter of weeks, prompting it to contact the department seeking funding for new materials, books, uniforms and furniture. “Your assistance in this matter is extremely urgent – we need help on the ground,” the school wrote.
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The arrival of so many children with limited English has naturally created more demand for in-school language tuition. As part of its refugee response effort, the department has set up regional education and language teams, which assist schools and families in accessing supports and resources.
A dedicated helpline is available to schools, and principals can apply for digital technology to help with the integration of newcomers through a ¤50 million fund established for that purpose. So far the State has taken a proactive and generous approach to the reception and integration of Ukrainian refugees.
It is important that schools not be left to their own devices in handling the situation, and that the State spare no effort in alleviating the inevitable pressures they will encounter.