Russia: Bill Proposes Ending Free Schooling for Children of Labor Migrants

A bill has been submitted to the State Duma proposing to end free schooling for the children of labor migrants. Under the proposal, children from migrant families would attend school on a paid basis regardless of age or grade, Orda.kz reports, citing The Insider.

The draft law would also limit to three the number of attempts a child can make to pass the Russian-language proficiency test required for school admission.

The law's drafters claim that around 181,000 children from such backgrounds are enrolled in Russian schools and often face challenges in mastering the language and curriculum, requiring a more individual approach.

Lawmakers also point to increased pressure on school capacity and teaching staff as the number of such students grows.

The proposal has drawn criticism, including from Alexander Reut, head of the Department of State General Education Policy at the Ministry of Education.

He has argued that restricting free schooling in this way would conflict with Russia's constitution.