Russian Education Ministry rejects paid schooling for migrant children

The Russian Ministry of Education has opposed a proposal to introduce paid schooling for children of foreign labor migrants. This was stated by Alexander Reut, head of the Department for State General Educational Policy and Development of Preschool Education at the ministry.

Reut emphasized that, under the Russian Constitution, all individuals residing in the country—regardless of their citizenship—have the right to education. He stressed that this is a universal and inalienable right.

Earlier, however, Yaroslav Nilov, head of the State Duma Committee on Social Policy, proposed a bill that would prohibit free education for children of foreigners from grades 1 to 11. According to Nilov, children of foreign citizens should attend school on a paid basis, regardless of their age.

In September 2024, Nilov drafted legislation seeking to abolish free education in kindergartens and schools for children of non-Russian citizens. The bill included amendments to the federal law "On Education in the Russian Federation."

It is worth noting that Valery Fadeev, chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, previously called for the expulsion of families of labor migrants whose children do not attend Russian schools.