Poland funds 'Friendly School' program to support Ukrainian and migrant students

The Polish government’s “Friendly School” programme, running from 2025 to 2027, aims to equalise educational opportunities for children and youth arriving from Ukraine and other countries of migration or refuge. It provides financial support for school assistants who diagnose cultural‑shock stages and integration barriers, specialist psychological counselling, career guidance, and training for teachers on inclusive education.

The programme is financed through the European Social Development Fund (2021‑2027) with a total allocation of 499,903,491.80 zł, of which 412,513,516.80 zł comes from EU funds. In the Pomeranian voivodeship, the regional governor delegated implementation of Module 2 to a nationwide education operator selected via an open tender, awarding a grant of 7,777,660 zł for local schools.

The initiative seeks to create safe, supportive school communities where migrant pupils can build peer relationships, develop skills, and achieve parity with their Polish classmates.