Migrants from Central Asian countries living and working in Moscow are increasingly facing difficulties when trying to enroll their children in local schools. Despite having all the necessary documents, their applications are often rejected. Schools explain this by the lack of available places or simply refuse without giving any specific reasons. This was reported by Radio Azatlyk.
It is reported that many children of migrants remain without an education for several years. Some mothers who find themselves in this situation are desperately turning to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov for help, while others are forced to send their children back to their homeland. One such mother, Venera from Kyrgyzstan, has been trying unsuccessfully for several years to enroll her son in school, despite the fact that he should already be in the fourth grade. This year, she was also unable to enroll her youngest daughter in the first grade, despite having all the necessary documents. Venera explains that applying through a special app ends in a refusal within just a few hours. She has collected all the required documents, including passport translations and a medical record, but still faces refusals. In desperation, she turned to the president of Kyrgyzstan for help.
Similar problems are experienced by other migrants from Central Asia. Maral from Kazakhstan has also received several refusals to enroll her son in school, despite the approaching school year. She expresses deep concern about this and does not know who else to turn to.
Lawyer Mirlan Toktobekov, who provides legal assistance to migrants in Russia, notes that refusals to enroll migrant children in schools are often associated with xenophobic sentiments. According to him, there is an unspoken instruction that the number of migrant children in classes should not exceed 20%. This is especially noticeable in large cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Some parents, tired of constant refusals, give up trying to enroll their children in school, which leads to them falling behind in their studies. Toktobekov gives the example of a 13-year-old girl who could not start school for several years. Ultimately, with the help of lawyers, she was only able to enroll in the 2nd grade.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Russia reports that all appeals regarding refusals to enroll migrant children in schools are carefully considered, although they note that such complaints are few and far between, and the problem is not yet widespread.
