Labour apologises to young Ukrainian refugees after 'pushing' them to learn Russian

Labour has apologised to young Ukrainian refugees after students were pushed into learning Russian. Ukrainian children who fled their country after Russia's invasion were told to study the language for GCSEs in the absence of a Ukrainian offering. Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, has now announced a new Ukrainian GCSE as part of a wider commitment to supporting young refugees from the country. More than 34,000 children have entered the UK from Ukraine since the war broke out. Pupils who had fled the war-torn country said it was "insulting" to be told to study Russian. Schools Minister Georgia Gould admitted that many students were put in an uncomfortable position as she stressed the importance of the new qualification. She told The Guardian: "So many students were pushed into having to do Russian. I'm really sorry that they were put in that position. "It's really important that they will have access to a Ukrainian GCSE." Ms Gould offered her personal apologies to 20-year-old Vitalii Andronik, who, at 15, teachers urged to study Russian. The Ukrainian refugee admitted it was "too late" for him, but was grateful that future generations would be able to study their native language. He said: "It's a recognition of the trauma that we went through. It’s brilliant news to hear that in future kids here won’t have to study Russian." Sofia Chonka, 16, who fled Ukraine to London in June 2024, said she was told to study Russian in Year 9. She said: "I didn’t want anything to do with Russia – they killed my people and injured my family." The Ukrainian pupil added: "It’s a stereotype that they are similar languages; they are completely different. Because Ukrainian is so beautiful, the Russians don’t like it. They can't ban it; they can’t ban people." LATEST EDUCATION NEWS: The AQA exam board will develop the new GCSE qualification in collaboration with language and subject experts. The Ukrainian Government and community have lobbied for the qualification since 2024, including a letter from Kyiv's education ministry to the Department for Education (DfE) warning that Ukrainian children were "being pressured by their school staff to pass the Russian GCSE". Ms Gould said it was one of Kyiv's asks, adding that the Government was "really proud to be able to do it, and proud of that partnership with the Ukrainian government". Kyiv's Education Minister Andrii Butenko said the announcement was an "important milestone" in the relationship between the UK and Ukraine. He added: "This will give Ukrainian children forced to leave their homes by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine an equal opportunity to choose their native language as a GCSE subject." The announcement builds on the UK-Ukraine 100-year partnership, a generational agreement signed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky, to strengthen defence and cultural ties between the countries. Ms Powell said Ukrainian children should be able to maintain their connection to their heritage while in Britain. She said: "This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine. "Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders." Follow related topics: