ETUCE recently undertook a solidarity mission to Poland to witness the work being carried out by Polish teacher unions in support of Ukrainian refugees and their families. Poland has largely opened its borders to those fleeing the war and exceptional work has been carried out by the state, civic society, and the teacher trade unions to provide homes, financial support and, also, education for children to those seeking shelter.

The mission was led by EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan, in his capacity as President of ETUCE.

Larry commented, “In one school we met a class of Ukrainian children studying English. Their teacher was Ukrainian; she had been granted special teacher assistant status to allow her to work in the Polish system. Before we entered the class the school’s headteacher asked us not to speak to the children about their recent experience as he warned that it was still too traumatic. Three pupils had fled from Mariupol, and their homes were now destroyed, he explained; another, escaping her hometown in a convoy of cars, had witnessed the vehicle in front being shelled, with body parts then strewn on the road. This was the type of trauma the school was supporting students to deal with.

“We also visited a refuge for families, with only women and children staying there. Again, we heard of the most challenging of circumstances with all the males in the families still in Ukraine as part of the armed defence.”

He concluded, “It was at the same time inspiring to see the work being done to support refugees but also dispiriting to consider the reasons why such support is needed. Certainly the welcome shown by Poland puts to shame the efforts of the UK government and it underlines why teacher unions such as ourselves need to continue our solidarity efforts and to raise our voices in support of peace.”