ULEC Webinar - How Successful Was the Integration of Ukrainian Refugees into Czech Schools Following the Russian Invasion?
29 January 2025
On January 27, the Ukrainian Language Education Centre hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled “How Successful Was the Integration of Ukrainian Refugees into Czech Schools Following the Russian Invasion?” This event brought together educators, researchers, and other professionals to explore the challenges and successes of integrating Ukrainian refugee students into Czech schools.
The webinar featured two leading experts in the field of education, Prof. Klára Šeďová, PhD, and Kateřina Machovcová, PhD, who shared their findings from recent studies conducted under the National Institute for Socioeconomic Risk (SYRI). Their research focused on the strategies employed by Czech schools to accommodate Ukrainian refugee students, the obstacles faced, and the outcomes achieved.
The speakers discussed how Czech schools responded to the influx of nearly 40,000 Ukrainian refugee children during the 2022/23 school year, representing four percent of all primary school students in the country.
The speakers explored the spontaneous adaptation process of Czech schools, which emphasized social integration and the well-being of students. They also addressed challenges related to academic adaptation, as many teachers lacked the preparation for working with foreign students. Insights from their research interviews with students revealed different trajectories of Ukrainian students transitioning from primary to secondary schools, ranging from high achievers striving for university education to those struggling with adaptation and academic performance.
For those who wish to access a recording of the webinar, it is available on YouTube here: