Europe’s only bilingual school for Ukrainian refugee children opened in Budapest in September, integrating multiculturalism and psychological support into its curriculum. The Ukrainian-Hungarian bilingual school offers Ukrainian and Hungarian certificates through the House of Ukrainian Traditions. The school was founded by Serhiy Beskorovany and his wife Olenna, who noticed Ukrainian students in Hungarian schools were struggling with social integration and language barriers.
The school addresses the differences in curricula between the Hungarian and Ukrainian educational systems, helping students navigate the path to graduation. Many Ukrainian children in Hungary opt for online education provided by the Ukrainian state, leading to a lack of integration into Hungarian society. However, at the bilingual school, students are receiving psychological support and are effectively picking up the local language.
The school has two psychologists on staff to address trauma in refugee children who have experienced the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the Hungarian state covers teachers’ salaries, the Ukrainian House of Traditions manages other expenses with support from charities and international aid organizations. The school currently employs 30 teachers, most of whom are native Ukrainian speakers.
One student, Veronika, arrived in Hungary without her parents but with a positive attitude towards adapting to her new environment. She highlights the differences in school atmosphere compared to her previous experiences and expresses her desire to continue her studies in Hungary. The Hungarian-Ukrainian Bilingual School and Gymnasium in Chepel currently has 400 students enrolled, providing a supportive environment for Ukrainian refugee children to receive education and psychological assistance.
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