All children living in Ireland have a right to an education, including refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers.
State system of school education
They are also entitled to free pre-school, primary and secondary education School education in Ireland is divided into primary for students aged six and over and secondary education for teenagers.
Education in Ireland is compulsory for all children aged 6 and over. The primary school curriculum consists of 13 subjects: Irish, English, mathematics, history, geography, science, music, art, music, drama, physical education, ethics education and personal education.
There are several types of secondary schools in Ireland:
1. Voluntary secondary schools. Traditionally, voluntary schools have offered a purely academic education, but they have also begun to provide practical and vocational subjects. These are the most common and popular schools across Ireland.
2. Vocational and technical schools and colleges. They offer a national curriculum with an emphasis on practical skills and vocational training. A third of secondary schools in Ireland fall into this category.
3. Public and comprehensive schools. Offering both academic and vocational courses. In Dublin, only 20 schools fall into this category, but this number is growing. To find out which schools are available in your area, see the list of schools on SchoolDays.ie
Information for Ukrainians 2022
Support for Ukrainians in Ireland:
Tusla Education Support can help you find a school for your children: https://www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/#EWO
How to choose a school?
Parents can choose a school for their child's education if there is an available place. Although most schools can admit all children who apply, there is no automatic guarantee of a place at the school you choose. Your chosen school may put your child on a waiting list or you may need to contact other schools to find a place. Website to find schools: https://www.education.ie/en/Find-a-School/.
List of documents
An application to the school for a place in the school is always submitted in writing according to the school's established or arbitrary form. Schools may request additional documents such as school reports, birth certificates and educational evaluations.
The school must respond to you within 21 days in writing to let you know whether your child has been accepted or has been placed on a waiting list. If you receive an offer from a school, you need to officially accept it. Schools usually have a deadline by which you must accept their offer. If the school refuses your child's education, you can appeal this decision. Once you have accepted a place for your child, you will be required to sign a statement that you accept the school's behavior policy and will make every effort to ensure that your child follows this policy.
The school may ask for additional documents and information to determine which class to send your child to or what level of support they need:
copies of reports;
relevant special educational needs assessments and reports;
a list of current textbooks and course plans;
standardized test results;
examples or copies of your child's recent class work.
The school may also ask you to provide your child's immunizations and recent medical records. Depending on how long they have lived abroad, your child may be exempt from learning Irish at school. You may need documentation to prove they qualify for this exemption.
Features of private schools
Public education is available to everyone. But you can also send your child to a private paid institution. In private schools in Dublin, the annual fee for full-time education ranges from €4,000 to €10,000. Boarding fees can reach 24,000 euros. There are several international schools in Dublin. They offer study programs from France, Spain and Germany, as well as the International Baccalaureate. Studying in international schools is also paid.
Language of instruction, availability of integration classes
English, Irish.
Visa, visa issues
Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to travel to Ireland. You also do not need proof that you have the COVID-19 vaccine, and you do not need to be tested for COVID-19 prior to arrival. If you do not have a valid passport, you can use another form of identification to travel to Ireland (such as a national ID card, expired passport or birth certificate).
The Irish government asked the airline to accept these documents. More details: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/asylum_seekers_and_refugees/the_asylum_process_in_ireland/coming_to_ireland_from_ukraine.html
Important links