Russian language test leaves Tajik children out of school

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — Thousands of migrant children have been left without access to education in Russia following the introduction of a law requiring foreign students to pass a Russian language proficiency test before enrolling in school, according to officials, migrants and rights advocates.

The law, which took effect April 1, 2025, makes it mandatory for migrant children to demonstrate a minimum level of Russian language knowledge prior to admission to educational institutions.

While authorities say the measure is aimed at improving educational standards, it has drawn criticism from human rights defenders and some Russian officials, who warn it is excluding children from the school system.

Tahmina Karimova, a migrant from Tajikistan living in the Kaluga region, said she was unable to enroll her two daughters in first grade despite submitting all required documents.

“I took the documents to one of the schools in the city, but they told me: ‘We cannot accept your children because they don’t know Russian, and there are no available spots,'” she said. Applications to other schools were also rejected, leaving her children without schooling.

Similar cases have been reported in other regions. Jafar Ibrohimov, another Tajik migrant, said he applied to several schools in the Leningrad region to enroll his younger brother but was turned away each time.

“One of the directors told me frankly: ‘Every day, the number of you migrants increases, and we are not obligated to accept everyone. Besides, you don’t know Russian,'” Ibrohimov said. He later sent his brother back to Tajikistan to continue his education.

According to Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision in Education, or Rosobrnadzor, only about 12% of migrant children who applied after the law came into force were admitted to schools. About 88% — roughly 20,600 children — were denied enrollment.

The measure has been criticized by rights advocates and some regional leaders. Rustam Minnikhanov, president of Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, has said children should not be denied education because of language barriers.

International conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, guarantee the right to education regardless of nationality or language. Russia’s federal education law also provides foreign nationals the right to education on equal terms with Russian citizens.

Despite these protections, experts say migrant families often face unlawful refusals. Migration expert Shuhrat Latifi said parents should demand written explanations for school rejections and appeal to prosecutors, courts or the children’s ombudsman if their rights are violated.

Karimova said she did not pursue legal action, citing a lack of trust in authorities. Her efforts to find Tajik-language classes or distance learning options also failed. “There are no Tajik classes or schools here, as far as I know,” she said.

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education has previously said no Tajik schools or classes operate in Russia, and that distance learning for children abroad has not been organized, citing technical and energy constraints.

“If such classes existed, my children wouldn’t be left without education,” Karimova said. She has since sent her daughters back to Tajikistan to study Russian, hoping they will later be able to re-enroll in schools in Russia.