No Ukrainian? Learn Russian! – advised British teachers to Ukrainian refugee children, the government apologized

The UK education department apologized after teachers advised Ukrainian refugee children to learn Russian due to the absence of a Ukrainian language exam. An announcement was made to introduce a Ukrainian GCSE exam by 2028, allowing students to take it in schools. Approximately 30,000 school-aged Ukrainian refugees reside in the UK since 2022. The Ukrainian education ministry previously expressed concerns about the pressure on children to study Russian. The new exam initiative is supported with £340,000 funding. Ukrainian students welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their experiences and identity.