The first of September – “The Feast of Knowledge”

01 September 2011

On September the 1st the first bell rang in schools for 4,5 million school children all around Ukraine, including 190 thousand in Crimea.

Today 416 thousand first graders went to school for the first time all around Ukraine, including 17900 in Crimea.

According to the chairwoman of the Association of Crimean Tatar workers of education “Maarifchi” Safure Kadzhametova, since March 2011 the parents of 826 future first graders wished to educate their children in classes with Crimean Tatar language of education in a number of Crimean regions where Crimean Tatars live. The national classes were planned to open in 59 schools. However, 286 Crimean Tatar children in 23 schools were refused in opening of the first grades with Crimean Tatar language of education on various reasons. First off all the parents faced with opposition of the local authorities, heads of certain departments of education and directors of schools, that is the direct violation of the constitutional rights of citizens.

Nevertheless, 36 first grades with Crimean Tatar language of education were opened in 32 Crimean schools and 540 first graders went to school for the first time.

Including:
– 19 first classes were opened in 15 schools with Crimean Tatar language of education (298 school children);
– 18 first classes with Crimean Tatar language of education were opened in 17 Crimean schools with Russian, two and three languages of education (242 school children).

Today every Crimean school had the celebratory assembly. The school children were sincerely congratulated by the members of various councils, general public and parents. May 2011-2012 school year bring joy to our children and teachers despite many existing problems.