Prague to Fund Ukraine School Support After State Aid Cut

Prague Increases Aid to Ukrainian Schools After National Funding Cut

Thursday, February 12, 2026 – The city of Prague will provide 3.3 million Czech crowns (approximately $145,000 USD) to the humanitarian organization Člověk v tísni (People in Need) to support programs assisting schools in Ukraine, following a decision by the Czech Ministry of Education to cancel national funding for these initiatives. The move comes in response to the Ministry’s announcement that it will discontinue funding for Ukrainian-speaking assistants, teaching materials, and integration programs for Ukrainian children in Czech schools, starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

The proposal to increase city funding was jointly submitted by the opposition party Praha Sobě, along with Deputy Mayor Alexandra Udženija (ODS) and Councilor Daniel Mazur (Pirates). According to Adam Scheinherr, chairman of Praha Sobě, the city is stepping in to fill the gap left by the national government’s decision. “If the ANO government, with the support of extremists, wants to cut aid to Ukrainian children, Prague will increase it on my proposal,” Scheinherr stated. “We have approved 3.3 million crowns for psychosocial support for schools in southern Ukraine. Four years of Russian aggression are hitting children the hardest, growing up in permanent stress, and uncertainty.” He added that it is the city’s duty to stand with those who cannot defend themselves and not allow solidarity to become a victim of political deals.

The cuts to humanitarian aid within the proposed state budget have drawn criticism from various organizations, including the Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS) and the non-governmental organization Charita ČR. FoRS reports that the proposed budget reduces funding for humanitarian aid by approximately 70 percent, from 165 million crowns to 50 million crowns, and cuts funding for foreign development cooperation by roughly 40 percent, from 562 million crowns to 334 million crowns. Financing for the transformation cooperation program is also significantly reduced, from 100 million crowns to 30 million crowns.

The proposed budget also eliminates 500 million crowns from the Program of Humanitarian, Stabilization, Reconstruction and Economic Assistance to Ukraine, with the exception of guarantee instruments for business activities in Ukraine co-financed by European Union funds. Charita ČR warned that approving the budget in its current form would halt all humanitarian aid to Ukraine and nearly all humanitarian aid worldwide.

The decision to cut national funding for Ukrainian educational support in Czech schools follows a period of three academic years where Czech schools with significant Ukrainian student populations received targeted subsidies. These funds were used to hire Ukrainian-speaking assistants who aided students in adapting to the Czech education system, provided interpretation services, worked with parents, and served as a crucial link between teachers and Ukrainian families. In the first half of 2025 alone, 193 educational institutions received 89 million crowns through this program, specifically those with at least 10% of students holding temporary protection status in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Ministry of Education confirmed the program’s cancellation in response to inquiries from Seznam Zprávy journalists. The move comes amidst broader discussions about financial support for Ukraine, with Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babiš recently stating that the Czech Republic should not financially guarantee aid to Ukraine, urging the European Union to find alternative funding solutions. Babiš argued that Prague lacks the resources to underwrite aid for other countries and that the European Commission must find alternative mechanisms to cover Ukraine’s needs, prioritizing an end to the war.

This stance has been met with opposition from members of the outgoing Czech government. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný warned that withdrawing support for Ukraine would harm Czech security and economic interests, while Interior Minister Vít Rakušan criticized the move as a departure from the Czech Republic’s established approach within the EU. Concerns were also raised by Jiří Pospíšil and Martin Kupka, who warned of the long-term consequences of indifference to Ukraine’s fate.

Universities in the Czech Republic have also voiced their support for Ukrainian students, condemning the Russian invasion and offering assistance to those currently living in Czechia and their families. Charles University, for example, has launched a special call line offering psychological counseling in multiple languages, including Ukrainian, and has allocated at least 150 beds in its dormitories to accommodate Ukrainian students, staff, and their families.