UK Government Urged to Introduce GCSE in Ukrainian for Child Refugees

The UK government is being urged to introduce a GCSE qualification in Ukrainian to support child refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, as pressure mounts from both Kyiv and the children’s commissioner.

The call follows growing concern that many Ukrainian teenagers in British schools are being taught Russian due to the absence of a Ukrainian GCSE. This has caused distress among young refugees who feel retraumatised by learning the language of their aggressor, Vladimir Putin.

Since the issue was first reported in December, Ukraine’s education minister, Oksen Lisovyi, has met with UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to stress the urgency of the matter. Vitalii, an 18-year-old refugee who arrived in London in April 2022, said: “Why should I study Russian – I’m Ukrainian and I want to show it. The language is paramount for all of us.”

Following the meeting, Phillipson confirmed on Instagram that she has written to exam boards urging the reintroduction of a Ukrainian GCSE, a qualification discontinued in 1995 due to lack of demand. The Department for Education (DfE) has established a working group to support this initiative. Exam board AQA has stated it is carefully considering the proposal. However, some education insiders remain sceptical about how quickly this can be implemented.

The children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has also been campaigning for the reintroduction of the GCSE in Ukrainian. After visiting St Mary’s, a network of 13 Ukrainian language schools across the UK, she praised their work, describing the schools as “sanctuaries” for displaced children helping them to pursue their ambitions despite the upheaval they have endured.

De Souza welcomed the DfE’s engagement with exam boards, saying: “I have long called for qualifications to be made available in Ukrainian for these children, who rightly want an opportunity to feel proud of their culture and their language. Ukrainian children living here in the UK are the future of their country and will play a vital role in its recovery. We must ensure they receive every support to thrive in their education.”

An AQA spokesperson expressed sympathy for Ukrainian students, stating: “We have received a letter from the education secretary about developing a GCSE in the Ukrainian language and are considering it carefully. As an education charity, we stand ready to support Ukrainian students who want formal accreditation of their language.”

However, a source within the education sector warned of the practical challenges, noting that developing a new qualification typically takes two years, with a further two years before it can be fully taught. “So, a GCSE is not going to help students who are currently here who have fled Ukraine,” the source said.

St Mary’s Ukrainian schools have proposed becoming a centre for both GCSE and A-level Ukrainian qualifications. Ukraine’s Ministry of Education has supported this idea, stating that establishing a Ukrainian GCSE centre in the UK “will provide these children with opportunities to take Ukrainian GCSE and A-level exams, supporting their educational and professional goals.”

The ministry highlighted a surge in demand for the qualification linked to the number of children arriving under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Currently, there are around 27,000 displaced Ukrainian children and approximately 7,000 diaspora children interested in pursuing Ukrainian GCSEs.

Maintaining proficiency in Ukrainian is seen as crucial for displaced children’s eventual transition back to Ukraine, particularly as many families hope to reunite once it is safe to return.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This government has set out its decisive support for our Ukrainian friends. That’s why we have, last week, asked exam boards to consider introducing a Ukrainian GCSE – giving these young people the chance to celebrate their heritage and their native language.”