Romanian-language primary class in Ukraine closed after just four days, MFA launches inquiry

In the village of Cartal (Orlivka) in Odesa’s Ismail district, a newly created first-grade class taught in Romanian was operational for only four days before parents received instructions to cancel their enrollment and register their children in a Ukrainian-language class. The parents had submitted multiple applications over several months, finally filing a fifth request just before the school year began. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has reached out to both Bucharest and Kyiv authorities to investigate the closure and find a way to maintain Romanian-language schooling.

The ministry highlighted that the class was established following efforts by the Romanian Consulate in Odesa, which had engaged with local officials. A second consular delegation is scheduled to visit the site to discuss the issue with all parties involved. The MFA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of the Romanian minority in Ukraine, referencing the action plan linked to Ukraine’s EU accession process.