Lilia Grinevich suggests three language models for teaching minorities

The corresponding suggestions are set out in the draft law "On Full General Secondary Education", which was approved at a government meeting on Wednesday, March 13.

The document offers three models of training for representatives of national minorities:

The first model is for indigenous peoples of Ukraine, who do not live in their language environment. Those are primarily Crimean Tatars.

For them, the first model involves learning the language of indigenous people from 1st to 11th (12th) grade along with a thorough study of the Ukrainian language.

The second model is for national minorities schools with EU languages of instruction.

Depending on the language group and the language environment, the use of this model may vary, but the basics are:

In elementary school, they will be taught in the mother tongue, along with learning the state language.

In grade 5, at least 20% of the yearly study time should be in Ukrainian with a gradual increase in volume to at least 40% of subjects taught in the state language by grade 9.

Starting from high school, at least 60% of subjects must be taught in the official language.

The third model will be applied to the rest of the national minorities of Ukraine.

It concerns the minorities, whose languages are in the same language family as Ukrainian, as well as those who live predominantly in their own language environment (Russian language).

There, elementary school will also be in a minority language along with the study of Ukrainian, and starting from grade 5, at least 80% of the academic time must be in the state language.

The government will submit this document for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada, the UP.Zhyttya reported.