Ukraine Suggests Romanian Ethnics In Grades 1 To 4 Have 80% Of Curriculum In Mother Tongue

Ukrainian representatives proposed that Romanian ethnics in grades 1 to 4 had 80 percent of their curriculum in their mother tongue, while Romanian pupils in grades 5 and 6 would benefit from a percentage between 65 and 75 percent, those in grades 7 to 9 would have between 50 and 70 percent of their curriculum in Romanian and those in grades 10 to 12 would have between 20 and 30 percent, according to Romanian Education Minister Liviu Pop.

Pop said that he asked Ukrainian Education Minister Liliya Hrynevych to explain how the Ukrainian authorities will implement the new education bill without affecting mother tongue education for ethnics. The Romanian minister expressed his disappointment in the fact that the discussions failed to reach concrete results that would ensure quality education for Romanian ethnics.

The Romanian minister said he demanded higher percentages for Romanian-taught curriculum and that negotiations are currently underway.