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According to government and international organisation data from 2023, over 1.7 million Ukrainian citizens were temporarily protected in Poland and legally resided in the country. A large portion of this population are school-age children and youth, which has led to a dynamic change in the Polish education system.

Data available in 2023 shows that hundreds of thousands of children from Ukraine have been integrated into the Polish education system – both those who arrived after the outbreak of the war and those who had lived in Poland previously:

• approximately 42,500 children in preschools/nurseries;
• over 113,000 students in primary schools;
• over 11,000 students in higher education (data as of the end of 2023*).
   

The total number of Ukrainian children and youth attending Polish educational institutions – from preschools to secondary schools – reached nearly 286,500 in the academic year 2023/2024.

Access to education in Polish schools has become not only a formal right but also a crucial tool for social and emotional integration. By participating in classes, Ukrainian children acquire new language skills, establish relationships with peer, and participate in everyday social life – which is especially important in the context of migration experiences and the traumatic effects of war.

At the same time, the presence of such a large number of students from across the eastern border poses challenges for the education system:

• the need to provide language support (Polish as a foreign language),
• access to psychological and pedagogical support,
• adapting curricula to the needs of students with varying levels of skills and school experience.
   

Why is this important for the WELLBOOST project?

The WELLBOOST project: Boosting Life Skills and Psycho-Social Wellbeing of Ukrainian Students in European Schools addresses these challenges directly. Strengthening the psychosocial resilience and life skills of young people with migration and conflict experiences is crucial to ensure that students not only thrive in their new educational environment but also find a sense of security and empowerment.

The project activities, such as creating self-assessment tools, well-being modules and educational games, respond to the specific needs of students and teachers, enriching the educational process with developmental, emotional and social components – so important in the context of war experiences and adaptation to a new country.

Слава Україні!

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