INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SPACE
5’2025

Mykhailo Mishyn
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7064-1983
Olena Khomenko
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9223-1257
Serhii Shkabko
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4902-8130

ENSURING ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN FROM MIGRANT BACKGROUNDS UNDER COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 77/486/EEC: CHALLENGES AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

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Language: English
Abstract. This article examines Ukraine’s alignment with Council Directive 77/486/EEC on the education of migrant workers’ children in the context of the EU accession process. The aim of the article is to evaluate Ukraine’s readiness to fulfill its obligations as a future host Member State, with a focus on the regulatory mechanisms required to ensure effective language integration and mother-tongue support for the children of EU workers arriving in Ukraine. In this context, the aforementioned Directive remains an important EU legal instrument guaranteeing access to free education, host-country language instruction, and support for the mother tongue and culture of origin, while Ukraine is currently taking consistent steps to implement its provisions within the national education system. The analysis identifies key challenges, including gaps in secondary legislation, insufficient teacher training, and the absence of standardized language assessment mechanisms. To address these shortcomings, the article proposes a three-pillar strategic framework focused on establishing a coordinated national approach, strengthening institutional systems and human capacity, and ensuring quality assurance and sustainability. It is emphasized that a combination of targeted legislative action, soft policy measures, and capacity-building is essential for Ukraine to achieve full compliance with the Directive upon EU accession and to ensure the effective educational integration of children of migrant workers.
Keywords: EU acquis, Council Directive 77/486/EEC, education of migrant workers’ children, language instruction, EU accession, education policy.
https://doi.org/10.32987/2617-8532-2025-5-5-14

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