Milton Keynes MPs welcome introduction of Ukrainian GCSE course to support students impacted by war
The Government has announced that a new Ukrainian GCSE qualification will be created to help pupils preserve their language and open doors to future opportunities.
The Department of Education has requested that the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) work closely with Ofqual, teachers, and experts in Ukrainian to develop the course.
Milton Keynes MPs Chris Curtis , Emily Darlington, and Callum Anderson have praised the decision, adding that it will help support Ukrainian families in Milton Keynes.
The course will assess reading, writing, and cultural knowledge, and is expected to be taught for the first time in 2028, with assessments beginning in 2029.
Though available to any student, the announcement will be especially important for learners impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Producing a robust qualification in Ukrainian will give those displaced by the war, and the next generations, the chance to learn and preserve knowledge of the language.
In addition, Ukrainian students will not face additional barriers by devoting time to understanding their own language and culture.
Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Milton Keynes has hosted a large number of refugees, including many of school age.
While students in the city are offered the opportunity to study a Russian GCSE, no equivalent qualification is available in Ukrainian.
Local campaigners have warned that using Russian courses as an alternative risks re-traumatising learners and fails to promote the culture or history of Ukraine. A recognised GCSE course will boost local Ukrainian charities and supplementary schools, like Sunflower run by Ukraine Appeal, who have worked tirelessly to ensure education of the Ukrainian language is available to children in Milton Keynes. Emily Darlington, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes Central, said: “I’m pleased the Government is introducing the new Ukrainian GCSE because it gives children a language option other than Russian, the language of their aggressor.
“It will allow them to learn more about their roots and make it easier for them to go home after the war. I know MK’s Sunflower School will support our city’s Ukrainian students to succeed, and I will back them to do so.”