Czech senators challenge separate school enrollment for Ukrainian refugee children

A group of Czech senators has petitioned the Constitutional Court to annul a legal amendment that reintroduced the option of holding separate school enrollment sessions for children of Ukrainian refugees. The lawmakers argue that the provision is discriminatory, will lead to segregation, and violates both the right to education and the Czech Republic’s international obligations.

The law in question allows primary school principals to set a special enrollment period exclusively for children with temporary protection status. This period runs from June 1 to July 15, whereas standard enrollment for other children takes place in April. The amendment was approved on the argument that the measure would help to evenly distribute foreign students among schools and to facilitate their integration.