Ukraine Submits Draft Education Law to Hungary Amidst Language Dispute

Ukraine Offers Concessions on Minority Language Education

Ukraine has formally submitted a draft education law to Hungary, a development announced by Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka on November 7, 2025. This legislative proposal partially addresses Budapest's long-standing demands regarding the language policy for ethnic Hungarian minorities in Ukrainian schools. The draft law incorporates five out of the eleven requests previously put forth by the Hungarian government.

The specific details of the five points addressed in the draft have not been publicly disclosed by Kachka. However, he indicated that if Budapest approves the current version, Kyiv is prepared to submit the bill to the Ukrainian parliament for consideration, with a response expected soon.

Historical Context of the Language Dispute

The issue of language rights for the Hungarian minority in Ukraine has been a significant point of contention between the two nations for several years. The dispute intensified following Ukraine's adoption of an education law in September 2017, which mandated Ukrainian as the primary language of instruction from the fifth grade onwards. This law significantly impacted schools teaching in minority languages, including Hungarian.

Hungary has consistently accused Ukraine of infringing upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians residing in the Transcarpathia region, particularly concerning their ability to use their native language in education and public administration. Budapest's demands have included:

• The restoration of the status of national schools
• The ability for students to take high school diplomas in Hungarian
• Broader use of the Hungarian language in public life
• The creation of a special status for Hungarian schools
• The possibility of using Hungarian in official documents and communication with the state
• The appointment of a Hungarian delegate to the Ukrainian Parliament

Current Educational Landscape and Future Steps

Deputy Prime Minister Kachka provided insight into the current state of Hungarian-language education in Ukraine, noting that approximately two-thirds of the 100 Hungarian schools in the country primarily use Hungarian as the language of instruction, with some subjects taught in Ukrainian. The remaining schools are Ukrainian-language institutions that offer several key subjects in Hungarian.

Ukraine has consistently denied accusations of discrimination, asserting that its language policies aim to ensure all citizens are proficient in Ukrainian, which is crucial for integration into Ukrainian society and access to public sector employment. The submission of this draft law represents a diplomatic effort by Kyiv to address Budapest's concerns and potentially alleviate tensions that have, at times, led Hungary to impede Ukraine's progress towards European Union and NATO integration.