Russia proposes paid schooling for migrant children

Children of foreign nationals residing in Russia should attend Russian schools only on a paid basis, regardless of age or grade level. This was stated by Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy, and Veterans Affairs, on his Telegram channel.

“Children of migrants should study on a fee basis, regardless of age and class,” Nilov wrote.

He also proposed limiting the number of attempts to pass the Russian language exam to three. These provisions are part of an updated version of a previously rejected draft law. According to Nilov, the revised bill is being prepared for submission to the State Duma and has inter-factional support.

“Let’s spare our teachers and minor migrant children the stress of struggling with the Russian language. Let the children stay at home with their parents or study through special paid programs,” Nilov added.

Back in September 2024, Nilov had drafted a bill proposing to abolish free education in kindergartens and schools for children of non-Russian citizens. The bill suggested amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation “On Education,” according to which preschool, primary, basic, and secondary general education for foreign children would only be available on a paid basis. Currently, all these educational stages are provided free of charge.

According to official data, the school admission campaign in Russia began in April this year. Since then, 1,762 children have submitted applications. Of those, 335 were tested, 44 took the exam, and only 27 passed — a success rate of just 1.5%.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin attributed these results to newly adopted laws regulating migration. He noted that 15 legislative initiatives on migration control have already been passed and are now in force.

It was also reported that Russian language proficiency tests — including oral components — have been specifically developed for each grade level from 1 to 11. To gain admission to school, a child must correctly answer at least 90% of the questions.

Under federal law, children of migrants are prohibited from enrolling in general secondary schools unless their legal residence in Russia is verified and their knowledge of the Russian language is confirmed through testing.

It is worth recalling that in December last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning non-Russian-speaking migrant children from attending schools. The law aims to integrate children of foreign citizens into the Russian education system, incorporating language assessments and adaptation programs. The initiative is being monitored by the Russian Ministry of Education.