“We don't know precisely how many of them remained in Poland, but we do know that from among the refugees that came to us after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 145,000 Ukrainian children still attend Polish schools, and 34,000 attend Polish kindergartens,” she said.

Mucha stressed that in many cases the children were not sent to Polish schools in the conviction that they would soon be able to return home to Ukraine.

Some of the children continued their education in their Ukrainian schools online.

The deputy education minister said that the number of children who were not sent to Polish schools was estimated at 150,000, but more recent assessments by the ministry indicate it was smaller, perhaps by as much as 50%.

The assessment was conducted based, among others, on cross-referencing data from the PESEL number and “800 plus” welfare program databases.

PESEL is an 11-digit individual identification number assigned to all Polish citizens as well as certain categories of resident aliens, similar in its role to the social security number in the U.S.

The “800 plus” program is a child welfare benefit paid out to minors’ parents and legal guardians who are citizens of Poland and other EU member states, resident aliens working in Poland, or refugees from Ukraine. The benefit amounts to 800 zlotys a month (roughly €185).

“We will invite those children to Polish schools. From September 1 onward, they will be covered by compulsory school attendance, they will attend Polish schools. What is more, compulsory school attendance will be linked to the right to collecting the ‘800 plus’ benefit,” Mucha said.

This requirement will exclude high school seniors preparing for their Ukrainian high school finals. The Polish Ministry of Education will assist its Ukrainian counterpart in conducting the exam for young Ukrainian people residing in Poland.

The change was introduced as part of an amendment to the act on assistance to citizens of Ukraine.