Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, has urged that the enrollment of migrant children without Russian language proficiency in Russian schools be halted, TASS reports.
“This situation, which is frequently discussed in areas of social service, concerns schools and other educational institutions where children are admitted despite lacking knowledge of Russian. This affects the overall education level, and it’s time to put an end to it,” he said during a meeting on the national migration policy.
Previously, on October 22, Sverdlovsk Region Children's Rights Commissioner Igor Morokov suggested categorizing migrant children with poor Russian skills as children with special needs, according to RBC. He reportedly also advocated for tailored support for these students and their teachers.
In September 2024, the newspaper Izvestia reported that the Ministry of Education recommended limiting the enrollment of migrant children with limited Russian skills to a maximum of three per class or group in schools and kindergartens. The ministry's guidance stated that teaching these children is as challenging as educating children with disabilities.
Moreover, State Duma members proposed mandatory language testing for foreign children entering schools. According to members of the "New People" party, children who fail the test should be required to prepare for a retake within a year at their parents' expense, rather than at public expense.
