A student who escaped from Ukraine to the UK decided to leave Sixth Form college after refusing to learn Russian.
Kateryna Endeberia left Donetsk due to the Russian invasion in 2022 and relocated to Stoke-on-Trent. She completed her GCSEs a year later and then finished a foundation year at City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, where she studied economics, politics, and statistics.
However, the 19-year-old student claimed that she was prevented from taking her end-of-year mock exams because she refused to learn Russian, her teacher’s suggestion. Kateryna expressed her inability to comply, citing her country’s ongoing conflict and her father’s service in the Ukrainian army.
Speaking to StokeonTrent Live, Kateryna shared, “I cherish my education and have put in significant effort to master the English language and secure my current position.
“But at the end of my first year, an incident occurred. A teacher insisted that I learn Russian, which I found unacceptable given the circumstances in my homeland.”
Kateryna further stated, “I made it clear that I couldn’t study the language of a nation causing suffering to my people.
“I tried to take my mock exams, but I was denied the opportunity. I wanted to demonstrate my abilities. Subsequently, my mother was informed that my college enrollment was terminated.”
Kateryna, no longer a student at the college, expressed her frustration at the situation, emphasizing the impact on her future aspirations, particularly in pursuing A-Levels.
“I had hoped to study economics, politics, or finance. Unfortunately, that opportunity has now been lost,” Kateryna lamented.
The college website promotes “equality of opportunity and inclusivity” as core values, aiming to foster respect, understanding, and diversity among students.
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College declined to comment on individual cases but assured its commitment to resolving issues in line with established protocols and maintaining student confidentiality.
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