The Committee rejected an alternative draft law on amendments to some laws of Ukraine on ensuring the educational rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine and national minorities (communities) of Ukraine

The Committee on Education, Science and Innovation with the participation of the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Андрія Бутенка at its meeting 12 October 2026 considered the project Закону України «Про внесення змін до деяких законів України щодо забезпечення освітніх прав корінних народів України та національних меншин (спільнот) України» (Reg. No.

16119-1

from 09.10.2026), filed by G.G. Mazurash, n.d. of Ukraine, and unanimously recommended Верховній Раді України to reject this bill.

The main differences of the bill register. No16119-1 from the main are:

1. The wording of «поряд із державною мовою» on guaranteeing the right to use the languages of national minorities (communities) of Ukraine and indigenous peoples of Ukraine in the educational process is excluded (changes to the article 7 Закону України «Про освіту» and the article 21 Закону України «Про забезпечення функціонування української мови як державної»).

2. The requirements for proficiency in the language of the respective national minority (community) or indigenous people of Ukraine by representatives of the administration of institutions of general secondary education have been clarified: the obligation of proficiency in the corresponding language is provided for heads of institutions, without mentioning deputy heads.

3. The founder's duty in case of reorganization or liquidation of the relevant communal institutions of general secondary education is provided to provide students with a ride to another educational institution and in the opposite direction, in particular for participation in the educational process and extracurricular activities.

4. The provision on external independent assessment has been clarified: it is possible not only to receive tasks in translation in the corresponding language for persons who have received education in the language of the indigenous people of Ukraine or the national minority (community) of Ukraine, but also to perform tasks in this language, except for tasks in the educational subjects of the language and literature industry.

During the discussion of the project, Голова Комітету Сергій Babak stressed the inadmissibility of restrictions on the use of the state language in educational institutions with any number of representatives of national minorities.

View video of the meeting with discussion of the draft register. No16119-1 we offer by the link.