The Embassy of Ukraine denies the rumors: No school teaching in the Romanian language will be closed in 2027

The Embassy of Ukraine in Bucharest clarified that the reform of the high school education system will not lead to the closure of schools with full or partial teaching in the Romanian language. The statement comes after erroneous information regarding the reduction in the number of these school units circulated in the Romanian press.

No Romanian-language school in Ukraine will be closed in 2027 PHOTO: Shutterstock

“The Embassy of Ukraine in Romania observes the reappearance in the Romanian public space of some information that does not correspond to reality regarding the reform of the high school education system in Ukraine. We emphasize that no school with full or partial teaching in the Romanian language will be closed in 2027“, it is stated in a message published on Facebook by the diplomatic representation.

The representatives of the Embassy rejected the information according to which “in 2027, the number of schools teaching in the Romanian language in the Chernivtsi region will be reduced from 20 to 4″. “The reform does not foresee the closing of any educational unit. The schools that will not become academic lyceums will continue to function as gymnasiums (grades 1–9). Currently, in the region there are 63 educational units with full or partial teaching in the Romanian language and 11 branches serving remote rural localities. No official document provides for the reduction of the school network in 2027”, explained the Embassy.

The reform aims to modernize education

The embassy emphasizes that the goal of the reform is “increasing the quality of education, modernizing the education process, ensuring students' access to specializations relevant in the high school cycle and harmonizing the structure of the educational system with European standards by introducing the 12-year system“. Representatives of Ukrainian diplomacy also assure that “the right to education in the mother tongue will be guaranteed continuously and in the future”.

Another myth rejected by the Embassy of Ukraine is the one according to which children from the Romanian minority “their right to learn in Romanian will be revoked”. “The Constitution of Ukraine guarantees the right of persons belonging to national minorities to benefit from education in their mother tongue. The Law on National Minorities ensures the possibility to study the mother tongue and the state language in parallel. Students from the Romanian community will be able to continue to study subjects in Romanian. Ukraine fully complies with all international obligations regarding the protection of minority rights, including the provisions of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages”, explained the Embassy.

No “forced” transfer in Ukrainian schools

Diplomatic representatives also reject rumors of a “forced transfer” of Romanian children in Ukrainian-language schools. “The decision regarding the choice of school for the child belongs to the parents. The reform aims to create a network of academic lyceums (grades 10-12) and is being carried out throughout Ukraine. In the Chernivtsi region, the upper classes currently exist in 218 institutions, and starting from September 1, 2027, they will be in 59 gymnasiums with teaching in the Romanian language. Consultations with local communities established the network of academic lyceums with teaching in the Romanian language. The goal is creating a modern educational environment, structured according to EU standards”the Embassy also specified.

Regarding rural schools, the Embassy stated that they “they will continue to function as gymnasiums and remain an essential part of the educational network. The 11 branches with teaching in the Romanian language, which serve remote rural communities, will continue to be funded. For the Romanian community, flexible rules regarding the organization of the high school network and the provision of school transport are provided“.

The idea that the reform represents an attempt to assimilate the Romanians was rejected. “Ukraine builds its educational policy on the principles of equality, respect and cultural diversity. Any form of assimilation is strictly prohibited by law. The reform aims to harmonize with European standards and offer equal opportunities to all children for in-depth studies in the high school cycle”concludes the Embassy of Ukraine.