The Ukrainian government has introduced a new regulation aimed at enhancing oversight of students who are not participating in the educational system. This initiative, outlined by Vasyl Bohdan, the head of the Juvenile Prevention Department of the National Police of Ukraine, seeks to address the issue of children who have been absent from school for extended periods.
Bohdan explained that the primary objective of the regulation is to ensure that children who are not attending school are accounted for, particularly in cases where they have been missing for weeks and their parents are unresponsive. The measure is intended to safeguard the right to education and ascertain the well-being of these children.
“For each individual absence, there will be no penalties imposed. Schools will only contact child welfare services and juvenile police when a child is persistently absent and parents do not respond. This is a last resort to protect the child’s right to education and to determine if any harm has come to them, rather than a means to generate fines for the budget,” Bohdan stated regarding the practical implementation of the regulation.
He further clarified that if a child is ill or remains at home for family reasons, it is sufficient to inform the teacher. The administrative penalties outlined in Article 184 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses apply to serious cases of neglect, not to routine school absences.
The Ukrainian government has enacted a new policy to monitor school attendance, focusing on children who are persistently absent. This initiative aims to protect children's educational rights and ensure their safety, while clarifying that penalties will not be applied for individual absences.