One of the most painful questions for Ukrainian parents in Germany is what to do about school? On the one hand, you want to maintain ties with your homeland, not fall behind the Ukrainian curriculum, and get a certificate. On the other hand, there’s the harsh reality of German laws. Your head spins, and your heart is torn between “must” and “want.”
Let’s be frank. This article is not about choosing between a German and a Ukrainian school. It’s about how to legally and with minimal damage to a child’s nervous system combine these two worlds if you are firmly decided to go this way.
Part 1: Schoolchildren. Schulpflicht — a law that is not argued with
This is the first and most important rule of the game that you need to accept. Germany has the law of Schulpflicht — the obligation to attend school.
What does this mean in simple terms?
It means that every child living in Germany must physically attend a German school. Not online, not homeschooling, but sit at a desk in a classroom. This law is ironclad.
Critically important: No certificates of enrollment in the best Ukrainian online school will replace attending a German one. Attempts to “negotiate” or ignore the requirements of authorities (Schulamt, Jugendamt) will end first with official letters, then fines, and in the worst case, a visit from social services.
Therefore, let’s agree: a German school is your mandatory base. And Ukrainian education is an additional option that you choose consciously.
A student’s “double life”: how to organize it?
If you are ready for the challenge, here are legal ways to continue Ukrainian education.
| Option | How it works | Pros | Cons | Tip from Nodia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External studies at your school | You arrange with the principal in Ukraine. The child is enrolled in the school but studies independently, and takes an exam at the end of the year. | Free, retains a place in the “home” class. | Not all schools are willing to do this. All organization is up to you. | Suitable if you have an excellent relationship with the school and plan to return soon. |
| “All-Ukrainian School Online” (VSHO) | You use the state platform with lessons as a large video library. | Free, accessible to everyone, excellent content. | It’s just “YouTube for schoolchildren.” No teachers, no grades, no certificate. | An ideal free tutor to catch up on specific topics or listen to a subject in your native language. |
| “International Ukrainian School” (MUS) | This is a state online school from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for children abroad. | Official enrollment, free education, state certificate. | Limited number of places, you need to go through the enrollment procedure. | A good state option if you couldn’t arrange it with your own school. |
| Private online schools | You pay money and get a full service: online classes, curators, assignment checking, report card. | Maximum comfort and minimal organizational concerns. | It costs money, sometimes a lot. | If finances allow and you want to delegate the organization of the process to professionals. |
The main pitfall: double load (Doppelbelastung)
And now the hardest part. Your child will come home from a German school, do homework there, and after that, they will need to sit down for homework for the Ukrainian one. This is a colossal challenge.
- Talk to your child. Honestly discuss the workload. If they can’t cope, it’s not their fault.
- Set priorities. Perhaps it’s not worth demanding perfect knowledge of chemistry in two languages. Focus on the subjects that are key for you: Ukrainian language and literature, history of Ukraine.
- Don’t chase grades. Remember, the German school absolutely doesn’t care what grades your child has in the Ukrainian school. This certificate is your contribution to the future and connection with your homeland, not a reason for stress here and now.
NMT (ZNO) from Germany? Easy!
Obtaining a Ukrainian certificate of secondary education while living in Germany is absolutely realistic. Every year, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine opens temporary examination centers (TECs) in several major cities in Germany (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, etc.), where you can take the NMT. Just follow the news on the official website of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment and register on time.
Part 2: Students. Full freedom and full responsibility
If you are a student at a Ukrainian university, take a deep breath. There is no Schulpflicht for you. You manage your education yourself.
The key to success is to stay in touch with the university
Don’t become a “lost soul.” Immediately write to your dean’s office, explain the situation, and find out what can be done. Usually, the options are:
- Switch to an individual schedule or distance learning.
- Arrange to take exams online.
Academic leave — your “pause button”
Feel like you can’t handle studies, work, and integration at the same time? Academic leave is your salvation. It allows you to “freeze” your studies for a year without losing your place at the university. This is golden time to learn German to a good level, get oriented in the country, and decide what to do next. By the way, 1-2 completed courses in Ukraine can significantly simplify your admission to a German university in the future!
Instead of a conclusion
Combining two educational systems is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s difficult, and it’s okay if you or your child feel at some point that you can’t cope.
Remember: you are already doing an incredible amount for your child by moving to a safe country. Their mental health and smooth adaptation here and now are much more important than a perfect report card from two schools. Support your children, praise them for the smallest successes, and don’t be afraid to give something up if the load becomes unbearable.