Broad parliamentary agreement on exceptional exemptions concerning the care and education of Ukrainian children and youth

According to local media, municipalities will henceforth enjoy a great deal of freedom, flexibility, and exemptions from many requirements in solving the task of creating space and a framework for Ukrainian children and youth in schools and daycare institutions.

It will now be possible to ignore much of the legislation in the areas of care and education in order to create space for the many Ukrainian children and young people who come to Denmark.

The agreement received broad support among Danish parties, as it was concluded with the support of the government, the Liberal Party, the Socialist People's Party, the Radical Left, the Unity List, the Conservative People's Party, the Danish People's Party, the New Bourgeoisie, the Liberal Alliance, the Alternative Party, and the Christian Democrats.

The agreement includes the possibility of caring for Ukrainian refugee children in special reception and day care institutions where the Ukrainian language is spoken.

Minister for Children and Education Pernille Rosenkranz Theil stated, “The large number of Ukrainian refugees we are receiving in Denmark these past few weeks is putting enormous pressure on municipalities. We have to deal with that… That is why we are now giving municipalities extraordinary flexibility that can help ensure that Ukrainian children and young people enjoy as good a daily life as possible here in Denmark.”.

Daycare in Ukrainian
A press release about the agreement stated, “Therefore, the agreement must ensure that there are school and institutional places for many Ukrainian children and young people and give them the best possible framework to be part of Danish society during their time here, without sacrificing their Ukrainian language, culture and identity.”.

In the case of daycare centers, this means that:

• Daycare facilities (nurseries) can be established either in private buildings or in existing daycare buildings.
• Speaking Danish is not required, but municipalities should provide Danish-speaking staff so that children can be introduced to the Danish language and Danish society.
• Like any other Danish day care institution, temporary offerings must work with the well-being, learning and development of children, but they are exempt from many applicable laws such as - but not limited to - they will not be subject to curriculum preparation requirements.
• Unlike bilingual children in disadvantaged housing areas, Ukrainian children will be exempt from the requirement to be in an institution for 30 hours a week, which is intended to encourage them to learn the language.
• The guarantee of childcare is maintained in the daycare area and the usual rules also apply, for example, to the parents' committee, a healthy lunch, and self-payment with the possibility of free space subsidies.
• Municipalities can allow independent day care institutions and private day care providers to operate special services for children from Ukraine.
• Providing daycare in Ukrainian
• Municipalities can also allow independent day care institutions and private day care providers to operate special services for children from Ukraine, and the agreement allows them not to speak Danish.
• Ukrainian parents can receive childcare benefits, although it is usually required that they speak Danish and have lived in Denmark for seven of the past eight years to receive support, but Ukrainians have been exempted from this requirement.

Schoolchildren can be taught using Ukrainian books.
In elementary school
The new agreement will allow for the establishment of private primary schools for students from Ukraine. This includes:

• To educate Ukrainian children and young people across all educational stages.
• To teach them Ukrainian and English instead of Danish as the language of instruction.
• It would also be possible to disregard requirements such as the number of teaching hours, materials, and class sizes.
• Virtual distance learning can be used, for example, from Ukraine.
• It will also be possible to use educational materials from Ukraine if they meet Danish requirements.
• Municipalities can create reception classes across municipalities.
• The language testing requirement has been waived for displaced children and young people from Ukraine living in at-risk residential areas.
• Under this agreement, youth and adult education institutions may also offer Ukrainians with a residence permit under special law lessons in English or Ukrainian, wholly or partially, as virtual distance education.

The agreement covers Ukrainian children and young people who have a residence permit in Denmark under the special law, which expires at the same time as the special law issued on March 17, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Danish Minister for Children and Education is holding a press conference to announce the new parliamentary agreement.