In the occupied part of the Zaporozhye region, the study of Ukrainian will be canceled

In the Russian-controlled areas of the Zaporozhye region, the mandatory study of the Ukrainian language will be canceled starting with the new school year. It will remain only as an optional subject for those who declare that it is their native language. This was reported by Elena Shapurova, a representative of the Russian administration of the Zaporozhye region.

According to her words, quoted by TASS, in the current school year, the Ukrainian language is mandatory for all students, and from September 1, 2023, “each person can choose which language he will study as his native language.” At the same time, the Russian language can be chosen as a native language – then the number of hours for its study will be increased. If parents want their children to learn Ukrainian as their mother tongue, they should write a request to include it in the child’s curriculum.

A similar practice has been introduced in Russia since 2018 after the adoption of the law on learning native languages. Many representatives of organizations fighting for the protection of the culture and languages ​​of the peoples of Russia criticized this law, arguing that it creates preferences for the Russian language to the detriment of everything else: in particular, the compulsory study of the national languages ​​of the republics within Russia was abolished. In the annexed Crimea, where the Russian authorities have not formally left Ukrainian state status, ego is practically not taught anywhere in schools.

According to the 2001 census (more recent official data are not available), 50.2% of Zaporozhye Oblast residents considered the Ukrainian language their native language. Russia now controls more than half of the territory of the region, but not its center, Zaporozhye. Active hostilities continue, and the front line may change by September.