An individual who escaped Ukraine for a fresh start in the UK has left Sixth Form college after declining to study Russian.
Kateryna Endeberia departed from Donetsk due to the Russian invasion in 2022 and resettled in Stoke-on-Trent. She pursued her GCSEs a year later, followed by a foundation year at City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, focusing on economics, politics, and statistics.
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old stated that she was prevented from taking her end-of-year one mock exams this summer as she was urged to learn Russian instead.
Kateryna, residing in Norton, shared with StokeonTrent Live: “I cherish my education. I’ve dedicated myself to mastering the English language and achieving the position I hold today.
“However, at the end of my first year, an unpleasant incident occurred. A teacher started pressuring me to study the Russian language. For me, this was not feasible: my country is in conflict, and my father serves in the Ukrainian military.”
The student explained: “I made it clear that I do not wish to learn the language of the nation that has caused so much suffering to my people.
“I attempted to take my mock exams, but I was denied the opportunity. I wanted to prove myself. Following that, my mother was informed that my college spot had been revoked.”
Kateryna, no longer enrolled in the college, described the situation as “extremely unfair,” expressing her inability at 19 to seek admission to another institution and her desire to complete her A-Levels as her future prospects rely on it.
“I had hoped to pursue a degree in economics, politics, or a related field. Now, that opportunity has been taken away,” Kateryna lamented.
The college’s website emphasizes “equality of opportunity and inclusivity” as core values, highlighting their commitment to diversity and fostering respect for others to nurture well-rounded individuals.
City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College declined to comment on individual cases, citing confidentiality reasons. A spokesperson stated to Stoke-on-Trent Live: “The college places great importance on our students, and every effort is made to address issues and complaints following our established procedures. We do not provide details on individual cases to maintain confidentiality.”
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