Ukrainian Mother Fined for Daughter's School Absences: A Court's Verdict

Court Ruling in the Lviv Region

According to Главком: A court in Ukraine's Lviv region has fined a local resident, Natalia Babii, for failing to fulfill her parental duties after her 14-year-old daughter missed a significant amount of school. The girl, a student at Gymnasium No. 12 under the Sheptytsky City Council, was absent for 77 lessons over a 22-day period from January 1 to January 22, 2025. The Sheptytsky City Court found Natalia Babii guilty in this case, even though she did not appear for the court hearing.

The fine was set at 1,700 hryvnias, with an additional court fee of 665 hryvnias. The court's ruling can be appealed within 10 days. This case highlights the legal consequences parents in Ukraine can face for their children's chronic truancy.

Proposals from the Educational Ombudsman

Separately, Educational Ombudsman Nadiia Leshchyk has proposed reducing the number of school days a student can miss without a medical note from 10 to 5. She noted that her office has analyzed school attendance statistics, which is a crucial step in improving the educational process.

• Leshchyk also urged school administrators, who had declared holidays due to the national energy emergency, to allow teachers to work remotely.
• She initiated a proposal for an official order to organize distance learning during this period.

Nadiia Leshchyk, Educational Ombudsman

This legal proceeding underscores the emphasis on parental responsibility for a child's education and the potential legal repercussions for neglect. Concurrently, the Ombudsman's initiatives to change absence rules reflect attempts to balance student rights with parental duties amid modern challenges like the ongoing energy crisis.

Reducing the permitted days of absence could serve as an incentive for parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children's schooling.