Purpose: To support schools with a high intake of students from other countries, particularly after Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Stimulus/Rationale: The enrolment of students from Ukraine after the outbreak of war mobilised educational departments to take comprehensive measures in many areas.
Process: Teachers are supported with frequent training on intercultural issues in Kraków. There are also subsidised studies and courses for teachers in multicultural education that have 95% funding from the city and are considered a priority.
National laws regulate the employment of teachers in schools and non-national teachers can only be employed when they obtain several permits, which includes recognition of their diploma. Nonetheless, schools in Kraków have been able to employ international assistants (mostly non-nationals from other countries, especially Ukraine) who are not subject to such stringent rules of employment as they are hired as teacher assistants and not members of the teaching staff. In the 2023/2024 school year, there were 120 such assistants in local government schools. Their salaries are financed by local authorities.
This also helps the city engage more with immigrant parents in school life, with support from educators, teachers and other school employees. Last year, the City of Kraków and UNICEF organised integration support sessions at schools in Kraków for parents. The initiatives were organised by municipal education departments and took place in 124 locations in the city. They served as an opportunity to present the cultures and traditions of other nationalities, especially Ukrainian.
At the same time, schools had to find a mutual understanding of common history, but also national differences, the celebration of holidays or religious differences. This also encouraged schools to discuss respect for national and religious distinctiveness, respect for others, education in human rights and their violation and what schools can do (for instance, by organising International Human Rights Day in schools on December 10). Thematic picnics are organised to present the culture, history and languages of different countries with performances. Primary school “Szkoła Podstawowa no. 12” has operated an Inter-school Team for teaching the language, history and culture of the Ukrainian National Minority since 2013. Since 2024, a School for Students from Belarus has been run by the Belarus Solidarity Movement Association.
Impact: These initiatives support schools and teachers, but also families, and give students the opportunity to participate in cultural events related to the history of other countries, engage in providing support, learn together and form proper social and civic attitudes. In this diverse setting, teachers and students acquire intercultural competence by confronting intercultural differences and finding mutual understanding in diversity.
