Key Takeaways
- A Ukrainian refugee, Kateryna Endeberia, was forced to drop out of sixth-form college due to pressure to study Russian, a language she finds traumatic due to her personal experiences.
- Endeberia struggled with her A-level courses and felt bullied because of her accent, but the college allegedly did not provide her with extra support.
- The college instead suggested she take up A-level Russian, which she found "hurtful and insensitive" and akin to "discrimination and racism".
- Ukraine has lobbied the UK government to offer a GCSE in Ukrainian, as many displaced Ukrainian children are being pressed to study Russian, which could retraumatize them.
- The UK government and exam boards are considering introducing a GCSE in Ukrainian, but it may take a couple of years to develop.
Introduction to the Issue
A recent case has highlighted the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in the UK education system. Kateryna Endeberia, a 19-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was forced to drop out of sixth-form college after being pressured to study Russian, a language that holds traumatic memories for her due to her personal experiences. Endeberia’s story has sparked concerns about the support provided to Ukrainian students in the UK and the potential retraumatization of displaced children who are being pressed to study Russian.
Endeberia’s Experience
Endeberia moved to Stoke-on-Trent in 2022 after fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. She took her GCSEs at The Excel Academy in 2023 and then completed a foundation year at City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College (SFC) before studying economics, politics, and statistics for one year. However, when she encountered difficulties with her subjects, teachers allegedly tried to persuade her to study Russian instead. As her father is a Ukrainian soldier, Endeberia found this suggestion to be "hurtful and insensitive" and akin to "discrimination and racism". She felt that studying Russian would be a traumatic experience, given her personal connection to the conflict.
Lack of Support and Bullying
Endeberia claims that she struggled on her A-level courses and felt bullied because of her accent. Despite her difficulties, she alleges that the college did not provide her with extra support, instead insisting that she change subjects. She stated that "rather than offering empathy or help, they continued to insist that I change subjects. No one tried to understand how painful this experience was for me." Endeberia’s experience highlights the need for colleges to provide adequate support to students who are struggling, particularly those who have experienced trauma.
Complaints Process and Advocacy
Endeberia has since dropped out of SFC and is studying at home using notes shared by friends. She has applied to sit A-level exams as a private candidate in 2026, at a cost of £1,400. She is pursuing a complaints process through Potteries Educational Trust, which oversees SFC, and plans to escalate the case to Ofsted once this is completed. Endeberia’s case has also sparked advocacy for the introduction of a GCSE in Ukrainian, which would allow Ukrainian students to study their native language and culture.
Ukrainian Government and UK Response
Ukraine’s education minister, Oksen Lisovyi, met with the UK education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, in December 2024 to warn that being taught Russian could retraumatize displaced Ukrainian children in the UK. The children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has also urged the government to reintroduce a GCSE in Ukrainian. AQA has stated that it is considering developing a GCSE in the Ukrainian language, although this may take a couple of years to develop. The UK government and exam boards must take seriously the concerns of Ukrainian students and their advocates, and work to provide a supportive and inclusive education system for all students, regardless of their background or language.
Conclusion and Future Directions
Endeberia’s story highlights the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in the UK education system and the need for colleges to provide adequate support to students who are struggling. The introduction of a GCSE in Ukrainian would be a positive step towards supporting displaced Ukrainian children and allowing them to maintain their cultural heritage. As the UK government and exam boards consider the development of a GCSE in Ukrainian, they must prioritize the needs and well-being of Ukrainian students and work to create an inclusive and supportive education system for all.
