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The leaders of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), the Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine (UMDSZ), and the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association (KMPSZ) are protesting against the planned restrictive amendment of the Education Law in a joint statement. If the draft is adopted, the language of national minorities could be used exclusively in classrooms.
“We were shocked to read on the official website of the Parliament the draft amendment to the Education Law of Ukraine,” reads a joint statement by the three Hungarian interest groups. The signatories underline their appreciation of the recently adopted amendments to the law that partially restored the rights of national minorities, including Hungarians, to education in their mother tongue.
“However, draft law 12086 again restricts the rights and opportunities for national minorities to use their language,” they point out. The language of minorities could only be used in classrooms, but outside of that, only the state language would be allowed.
If the amendment is adopted, the use of the language of the national minorities, including Hungarian, would also be banned in private, as the draft also stipulates that Ukrainian should be spoken during breaks, in teachers’ rooms, and in the courtyards of educational institutions after lessons.
The joint statement states that the proposed amendment to the law not only restricts the right of national minorities to use languages, but is also “contrary to fundamental human rights.” Since one of the essential conditions for Ukraine’s European integration is the guarantee of the rights of national minorities, this draft law endangers the process of our country’s accession to the European Union,” concludes the statement, signed by the president of the KMKSZ, László Brenzovics, László Zubánics of the UMDSZ, and Ildikó Orosz of the KMPSZ.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/KKM/Király Márton