Ukrainian children in British schools were forced to learn Russian. The government apologized
Due to the lack of an opportunity to take exams in the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian refugee children in some British schools were forced to learn Russian. The government apologized to them and announced that Ukrainian language exams will be introduced starting in 2028.
Ukrainian children in British schools were forced to learn Russian. The government has apologized
The UK government has apologized to Ukrainian refugee children who were forced to learn Russian due to the lack of an option to take exams in Ukrainian in schools.
“Many students were forced to take Russian exams. I deeply regret that they were put in such a situation. Now, the issue of creating the opportunity to take the GCSE exam in Ukrainian is extremely important,” Gould said.
Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 30,000 Ukrainian children arrived in the UK. Due to the absence of a GCSE exam in Ukrainian in the country, some schools forced them to choose Russian. In 2024, the Ministry of Education of Ukraine complained to the British government regarding the pressure being placed on the children.
The development of the new exam was entrusted to the AQA organization. The UK Department for Education allocated £340,000 for this purpose.
During her visit to St. Mary's Ukrainian School in London, Gould met with 20-year-old Vitaliy Andronik. He said that at the age of 15, he was strongly urged to take an exam in Russian.
“It is too late for me now, but I want refugee children who come in the future to have the opportunity to learn Ukrainian. This means recognition of the emotional trauma we went through,” he said.
16-year-old Sofiya Chonka, who fled to the UK from Ukraine's Zakarpattia region in 2024, also said she refused to learn Russian.
“In the ninth grade, they told me I had to learn Russian. I simply said no. I didn't want to have any connection with Russia. They killed my compatriots and wounded my family members,” the girl said.
Ukrainian community organizations have been trying to introduce a GCSE exam in Ukrainian in the UK since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Inna Hryhorovych, head of the St Mary's Trust, is now working to introduce an A-level exam in Ukrainian as well. In the UK, the results of this exam are taken into account for university admission.