Migrant children will undergo testing during school admission in Krasnoyarsk schools.
Chatty Recap:
The Krasnoyarsk Legislative Assembly recently discussed teaching Russian to foreign children and assessing their language skills during school enrollment. As of next academic year, students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of Russian to be admitted.
During a joint committee meeting, it was established that foreign children must undergo testing before admission. Russian, as a non-native language, is not fluent for many foreign students. As of March 2025, nearly 3,430 foreign children and 2,368 children with migration histories are enrolled in Krasnoyarsk schools, with the majority being from Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Around 22.7% of these foreign children and children with migration histories do not speak or have limited proficiency in Russian, while 28.1% show difficulty in their studies due to language barriers. Despite existing integration programs, there still seems to be a gap in their understanding of the language.
Marina Aksenova, the head of the main education administration in Krasnoyarsk, noted that over 145,000 students are enrolled in city schools, with 4,500 possessing foreign citizenship or migration history. Schools such as No.16 have developed language and cultural adaptation centers for migrant children.
The testing for foreign children and those without citizenship will be conducted by the regional budget educational institution "School of Distance Learning" in Krasnoyarsk. The testing involves oral and written components, with a retake possible after three months if a child fails.
Issues such as cross-cultural communication and language learning were raised during the discussion. Deputy Elena Penzina emphasized the importance of systematic engagement with national diasporas, while Dmitri Dmitriev highlighted the need for assessing the effectiveness of educational and cultural programs over the past years. Iryna Subocheva suggested summarizing existing experiences and best practices.
The discourse also pointed towards enhancing cooperation with parents, particularly at the preschool level, as parents' English proficiency can also impact their children's acquisition of Russian. The need for foreign students to familiarize themselves with Russian culture and tradition was also emphasized.
Tatiana Gridassova explained that the testing is new for the region, and a unified approach is being developed. It's evident that language barriers and difficulties in academic adjustment are long-standing challenges that stretch far beyond this academic year.
In essence, it's crucial for both children and their parents to socialize within the community, learn the language, and understand the local culture and traditions to fully integrate into Russian society. Migrants should engage with the Russian-speaking populace and aspire to become active members of Russian society if they wish to receive education, work, and exercise their rights as citizens of Russia.
- The Krasnoyarsk Legislative Assembly has decided to implement a new policy where foreign children need to demonstrate their knowledge of Russian to enroll in schools starting from the next academic year.
- The regional budget educational institution "School of Distance Learning" in Krasnoyarsk will conduct the testing for foreign children and those without citizenship, which involves both oral and written components.
- In the discussion, the importance of systematically engaging with national diasporas, assessing the effectiveness of educational and cultural programs, and understanding Russian culture and tradition were emphasized.
- Tatiana Gridassova highlighted that the new testing is a step towards a unified approach in the region, acknowledging that language barriers and difficulties in academic adjustment are long-standing challenges that need to be addressed for both children and their parents for full integration into Russian society.
