"Your-mine understand little-small"

Migrants, whether we like them or not, need to be adapted into society. And the main way of adaptation is teaching the Russian language. Migrant children studying in regular Russian schools and barely speaking Russian pose a huge problem for teachers and other students. "MK" found out how visitors are taught in the capital and whether it gives any fruit in normalizing the tense situation associated with the abundance of guests from other countries.

“I hit him with a knife, otherwise I didn’t want to kill him. There were three. One girl, one he and I…” the notorious Orkhan Zeynalov muttered during the arrest…

Today, teaching newcomers the language of indigenous people is considered the main way to assimilate them into the Russian environment. To do this, a number of schools in Moscow have a so-called "ethno-cultural bias" and are designed for students from among visitors from different countries. In order to be able to fully teach them, such schools have organized SRJ - Schools of the Russian Language, one-year courses, after which the child can be taught according to the usual, general education program. SNR is available in 13 Moscow educational institutions. They accept only children of those parents who are not illegal immigrants and can provide documents on registration in the capital, a birth certificate and a medical card of the child.

One of these SRJ has been working at the Moscow School No. 157 since 2006. Sevda Seyidova, head of the structural unit "School of the Russian Language" of the school with an ethno-cultural Azerbaijani component of education named after Kerimov, says:

We teach children who do not speak Russian according to a special program that lasts a year. All of them are divided into four age groups - 6-7 years old, 8-9 years old, 10-12 years old and 13-14 years old. The main subjects are language practice, grammar and phonetics, which are diluted with lessons such as labor, technology, physical education. This is the first half of the day. In the second half, they do their homework with their own teachers, since parents often cannot help them at home, because they also do not speak Russian. Then they are engaged in circles - sports, music, art. Moreover, these classes are already taking place together with students of a general education school, which brings children of different nations closer together. I must say that it is very difficult to teach kids who only know the words "hello - goodbye" - we explain with gestures, from pictures. To do this, we have special textbooks for teaching children of migrants. Since the second half of the year, the program "Customs and Traditions of the Russian People" has been going on, Russian history, geography - in ordinary schools, children know less about this than in ours!

After completing the course of the School of the Russian Language, psychological and pedagogical recommendations are developed for each child to continue their education in general education schools - at the place of residence or stay. But 70% of children continue their education in the same school where SNR operates.

Children up to the age of 14 are taken to language courses in general educational institutions with an ethnic bias, and for those who are older, the so-called evening schools of the Russian language are intended - these exist only in two Moscow schools. The director of one of these schools - No. 90 - Vladimir Kuznetsov, spoke about the work of evening courses for migrant teenagers "MK":

Our audience of evening parties is from 15 years old and older - sometimes up to 20-25. The course of study in the "evening" is a year, and after that, children and young people can continue their education according to the usual general education program - with us. Teenagers are distributed after Russian courses in different classes - depending on the level of knowledge. It happens that a 20-year-old goes to the 6th grade - in another school this would be an occasion for ridicule, but in our country this is common. We have two directions: for residents of the CIS countries - Tajiks, Uzbeks, etc., who speak Russian at least somehow - and for foreigners from far abroad who do not know a single word: Chinese, Vietnamese, Syrians, etc. But a year later, Pushkin's Chinese recites: "I loved you, love still, perhaps ..." - and the Azerbaijani at the lesson reads "The lonely sail turns white ..."!

The leaders of ethno-cultural educational institutions paint a rather beautiful picture of the activities they carry out. It seems that they really do everything in their power and competence, but one question arises. Today, teaching Russian is the main method of adapting visitors and integrating them into Russian society. But logic dictates that visitors can study the language diligently and carefully, since it is a necessary tool for life, but at the same time they have no incentive to join the environment in any other way. Having learned the language, they continue to live in closed communities, adhere to their moral laws (which very often diverge from ours) and regard the indigenous people as an annoying nuisance.

Of course, we only teach the language, - Vladimir Kuznetsov answers this. - We are a school, and our opportunities are limited. But it is important that we have a unique atmosphere of friendship and goodwill. This atmosphere, to be honest, gives almost more in terms of integration into society than even language learning. It gives, if not understanding, then, in any case, the feeling that different people can and should live in a single society.

The same question: is it possible to make visitors Russians with the help of language? - "MK" was also asked by Professor Yuri Goryachev, head of the UNESCO Chair "International multicultural education and integration of migrant children in school" of the Moscow Institute of Open Education. Yuri Alekseevich is well known in the capital's ethno-cultural schools, as he is the author and co-author of numerous textbooks and manuals for foreign children and, no less important, for teachers of these same schools.

Learning Russian alone is certainly not enough to assimilate newcomers, says Yuri Goryachev. - It is necessary not only to know the language, but also to know the culture, history and, what is very important, the foundations of the laws of our country. So that people understand: where they arrived, where they now live and how it is customary to behave in this country. And I know that legislators are currently developing documents according to which visitors will have to thoroughly prepare for life and work in our country by passing a number of exams - including those under Russian law.

According to Moscow's leading educators, the difficulties that arise with the education of migrant children in ordinary schools are related to common, global problems. Such, for example, as the inability of today's children to read classical literature; schools - adequately organize the educational process; and teachers - to train according to individual programs, they explained to MK.

Andrey ROMANOV, teacher of the Russian language and literature at school No. 1205:

I once asked fifth-graders to memorize a famous passage from Pushkin:

Uplifting fluffy reins,
A remote wagon is flying,
The coachman sits on the irradiation
In a sheepskin coat, in a red sash.

All the guys were from Russian families. But they knew only 4 words in this poem: “fluffy”, “flies”, “sits” and “in red”. And they did not understand the meaning of the text, and therefore they taught it reluctantly. This fully applies to migrants. Of course, at first they need some courses on the initial mastery of the Russian language. But then there is only one way: to instill in children an interest in our texts - both in the narrower and in the broader sense of the word. This task is difficult, but extremely important, because in the end our whole life is a text!

Laureate of the "Teacher of the Year" contest, a former teacher of mathematics, and now the head of the Department of Education of the Southwestern District of Moscow, Mikhail SLUCH:

The problem of teaching children of migrants in regular metropolitan schools is among other problems. And here I will speak as a teacher of mathematics. The results of the Unified State Examination show that most of our eleventh graders do not know how to count and solve simple problems for the 6th grade. For example, operate with fractions. Filling this gap is paramount! But at school, instead, derivatives of the private pass, although the teacher today is free enough to reduce the hours allotted to the most difficult topics, and use the saved ones to instill in children the skills necessary for life. Why? Because there is no internal setting. And the same is true for the education of migrant children.

There are other stumbling blocks as well. First of all, only a large school with an appropriate economic tool that allows you to create individual timetables and educational programs can successfully teach migrant children. Secondly, in order to successfully teach such children, they must be loved. Thirdly, the teacher who works with them must know at least a little the culture of their peoples. Without this, there will be no mutual understanding between them and, as a result, success in learning. And teachers need to be prepared for this. Otherwise, there is a threat of segregation. And this is the most dangerous.

There is no publicly available information on how many children of migrants study in Russian schools. There are no reports from state institutions about what programs exist for their integration into Russian society. Over the past 5 years, there have been cases when children of migrants were not admitted to schools or were expelled due to the lack of registration or health insurance policy.

Article 78 of the Law on Education of the Russian Federation states: “Foreign citizens have equal rights with citizens of the Russian Federation to receive preschool, primary general, basic general and secondary general education.” By refusing to accept migrant children, school administrations violate their right to education.

Maksatbek Abdunazar opened an educational club for migrant children in Moscow. There, the child is being prepared for admission to a Russian school. Maksatbek is from Kyrgyzstan, this year he graduated from the Higher School of Economics under the Evidence-Based and Educational Policy program. For the special project "Ainalayyn", we talked with Maksatbek about how the club for migrants "Bilim" was created.

About childhood

In 2002 my family moved from Kyrgyzstan to Russia. At the age of 10 he went to the fifth grade of a Moscow school. For me, moving to another country was a shock. I did not speak Russian well, so I did not have time to study. He could not communicate with his peers, and because of this he met with ridicule.

It was difficult not only for me, but also for my parents. They did not know how to arrange their children in a Russian school. At that time, there were intermediaries who could help find a place for a child for about 250 euros. But my father decided to do everything himself. I remember when I entered the director's office, he said: "Good afternoon, good afternoon again, I'm Dobrikov." Then I immediately thought that he was a kind person.

About helping children

There are groups on Vkontakte “Overheard in Moscow among the Kyrgyz” And "Kyrgyz in Moscow". The youth is there. They meet, go to picnics and parties. I've been to their meetings a couple of times. It seemed to me then that it was possible to gather these people and do something useful together.

There was an idea to help orphans from Osh. I decided to collect things on Avito that are given away for free: clothes, children's toys, stationery. We had a small team of three people. We negotiated with people, and the guys from the public Vkontakte took things away. Then we found a car that took everything to Osh, to an orphanage for the disabled. From that moment on, I began to believe that everything is possible, the main thing is to want and find people.

I decided to collect things on Avito that are given away for free: clothes, children's toys

But then it seemed to me that material assistance was only temporary support. Therefore, I decided to leave, but the guys are still doing it. Then I found a center for adaptation and education of refugee children. I got a job there as a volunteer: I helped children from Afghanistan and Tajikistan get used to Russia, taught them mathematics. I didn’t like it there, because there were no requirements for volunteers: we could teach children anything. At the same time, the students did not appreciate your work and time, because the help was free. And I was preparing for lessons with children, I really wanted to help them.

About the creation of "Bilim"

After school, he entered the university, a little later he joined the Russian army. After the service, I wanted to do something useful. I noticed that labor migrants with children come to Moscow - I saw myself in the past in these guys and decided to help in some way.

I noticed that labor migrants with children come to Moscow - I saw myself in the past in these guys and decided to do something to help

At the Center for Adaptation and Education of Refugee Children, I met Alexia Blok, a professor from Canada. She offered a job as an assistant in scientific research: I found migrants and conducted in-depth interviews with them, asking about the difficulties they faced after moving to Moscow. We worked together for two months. For me, this was an introduction to Bilim. When you find out people's problems that they do not understand the Russian language, they have no idea how to arrange a child for school, you want to help. Some parents did not even know that their children have the right to education in Russia. Then an idea came to mind: to open an educational club for children of migrants. I asked parents if they would like such a center. They, of course, answered yes.

I wanted to open a club that would be different from those that already existed at that time. Firstly, courses at Bilim are paid, because this is how children and parents will appreciate the help of teachers. The average cost of training per month is 5,000 rubles (27,500 tenge). Secondly, we are financially independent. If the parents pay, I can cover the costs. We needed a project that would pay for itself.

I told my father about the idea to open Bilim. He, as always, said: "No, son, you'd better get a job than to believe in it." Then I decided to post a fake announcement on the Internet that there was a network of training centers for migrants in Moscow. I wanted to know if there is a demand for it.

I told my father about the idea to open Bilim. He, as always, said: "No, son, you'd better get a job than to believe in it."

I argued with my father: if there are more than a hundred ads, then we will open a club. Three weeks later, the calls came. I asked migrants where they live, how old their children are. As a result, there were more than 100 calls. He showed his father the contacts, names, ages of these people. He said that, most likely, at least 2% of those who called would come. To cover rent, teachers' salaries, I needed 25 students.

About difficulties

At first it was necessary to find sponsors, but I did not succeed. Most often, investors said that migrants came to the country to work, not to study, they need to earn money and send it home.

It was also important to decide how to legally register the organization: NPO, LLC or individual entrepreneur. If as an NGO or LLC, then we would depend on grants and could not receive money for services. As a result, we registered "Bilim" as an individual entrepreneur.

Now in "Bilim" - 350 students

About courses and programs

We opened in 2015. In the first year we had 150 students. Every year their number grows by at least 50 people. Now there are 350 students in Bilim. At first, we only had Russian language courses for children, then we opened courses in mathematics and English.

Adults wanted to study with us, and then we began to teach them mathematics, Russian and English. Now we have many courses for children and adults, we even have Korean and Chinese.

Our educational program begins with an introductory conversation. First, we talk with the parents: we ask, for example, what the child's name is, how old it is, whether there have already been any problems, what they want from the child. It happens that parents want to prepare their child for a Kyrgyz or Uzbek school, but now they temporarily live in Moscow. Then we talk with the child: we ask, for example, what the names of the parents are, what time of the year it is. This is a typical conversation when getting into the first grade in Moscow schools.

We have separate courses for children of different ages. If it is a preschooler, then we assign it to the preparatory class. If this is a child of school age, then, most likely, we will deal with him individually.

We prepare children from the preschool group in four subjects: reading, counting, the Russian language and the world around them. After the courses, they can read in syllables, count up to twenty at least, talk about themselves and their family, about the world around them: about what season it is, what city they live in, what the weather is like outside.

When applying, for example, to the 8th grade, informal exams are held in the Russian language and mathematics. Therefore, we prepare children for the eighth grade in these subjects.

All our programs are compiled on the basis of the Federal State Educational Standard (Federal State Educational Standard). According to him, an eighth-grader, for example, must know the Russian language and understand algebra and geometry.

We also take into account the programs of the school itself. They come with an in-depth study of the language, technical or humanitarian subjects. Families pre-select the school they would like to enroll in. On the websites of schools in the public domain there are programs for different classes. Based on them, we prepare the child for admission.

Help for parents

We also work with parents. For example, a family comes and they cannot send their child to school. We tell parents what documents are needed when applying to school. We help to fill out an application, open a personal account on the public services portal and e-mail.

We tell them how to get a compulsory health insurance policy (CMI). According to the agreement of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes, for example, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: if a migrant works in Russia, he can receive a compulsory medical insurance policy. This is especially important to know for families in which a child will be born soon. Usually migrants do not have enough money for paid services. And compulsory medical insurance provides them with access to free medical care.

According to the agreement of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes, for example, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: if a migrant works in Russia, he can receive a compulsory medical insurance policy

About teachers

At first, we wanted to give jobs to migrants who have a higher pedagogical education. Then they realized that they could not prepare children for school because they did not have work experience. Now we are recruiting teachers who already had teaching experience.

About extracurricular meetings

We advise parents to go to our events in addition to the courses. Once a month we go to museums with children. Every third Sunday of the promotion, you can visit Russian museums for free. We organize excursions and holidays ourselves, we hold football, chess and checkers tournaments. There is a competition of student initiatives at the Higher School of Economics - we usually participate there and receive funding for organizing events. Many children sit at home and do not communicate with each other, and it is a real happiness for them to go out into the world, receive medals and diplomas.

About getting into school

We mainly study children of labor migrants, we take everyone. There are also internal migrants from Volgograd and Yekaterinburg. There are children from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Approximately 85% of children after "Bilim" manage to enter Russian schools. The remaining 15% are those whose parents have changed their minds about living in Moscow.

Approximately 85% of children after "Bilim" manage to enter Russian schools. The remaining 15% are those whose parents changed their minds about living in Moscow

About cooperation with Russian schools

Usually, educational institutions are hostile to us, but then they realize that we are solving their problem, and slowly send students to our courses. And we pull the children to their program.

Another type of cooperation is when we jointly hold sports competitions and New Year trees. For example, we gather children for intercultural football, children from different countries take part in it.

About partners and awards

We are partners with the Higher School of Economics. The university allocates money for extracurricular activities, and we give contacts of children and parents to HSE researchers.

"Bilim" participated in KiVO (innovation competition in education) and won the audience's sympathy competition. By receiving awards, we understand that we are solving a problem that is important not only for us.

We understand that we are solving a problem that is important not only for us

Photos: provided by the hero

For a long time, Russia made it possible for all children who were on its territory to receive an education. The right to education of all children was untouchable. Since this year, the situation has changed: the Federal Migration Service ordered schools to expel children without registration under the threat of a large fine. "Yod" figured out why Moscow schools are ready to teach only children with Moscow registration.

Ukrainian Alla came to Moscow last year from the city of Chernivtsi, which is located in Western Ukraine. Alla says that food prices have risen sharply in her hometown, and it has become difficult to find a job. In Moscow, she quickly found a job as a manager in a small company, rented an apartment and decided to transfer her son Alexander this spring. She went to school number 1524 and asked what she had to do to get her son accepted into the eighth grade.

Alla was told that documents for admission to the school are now submitted through OSIP (District Information Support Services). She was told in OSIP that a child could be enrolled in school only if he had a temporary registration in Moscow for a year. Now Alexander and Alla have a temporary registration for three months. The owner of the apartment they rent refuses to register them for a longer period. In OSIP, the woman is told that without such a document, her son does not have the right to study at a Russian school.

Stasya Denisova EMPLOYEE OF THE CIVIL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE

Alla's story is now typical. A family from Ukraine recently turned to us for help. The school refused to enroll their son in the first grade for a year. At first they needed registration, and then, when the child was eight years old, they were refused due to the fact that it was too late to study in the first grade at the age of eight. The parents of this boy were forced to return to Ukraine. "According to the human rights activist, they now have a very large number of applications from families of migrants and refugees regarding expulsion and non-admission to schools. Most often due to overdue registration. The school administration refers to the order of foreign education No. 32 dated January 22, 2014. In the order, children were divided into two categories: first of all, those who have permanent registration are admitted to schools, and second, those with temporary registration. they think this means that such children should not be admitted to school at all.

For a long time, Russia made it possible for all children who were on its territory to receive an education. And the right to education of all children was untouchable. Since this year, the situation has changed: the Federal Migration Service has obliged schools to expel children without registration.

Gavkhar Juraeva HEAD OF THE MIGRATION AND LAW CENTER

Just this week, I received a call from several migrants from Central Asia who told me that their children were about to be expelled from schools because they did not have health insurance. Last year, a law came into force requiring migrants to buy health insurance. Without this, they cannot be hired. But we are talking about adult migrants. I don't understand why secondary schools put forward such a requirement for their students.

Several teachers in various Moscow schools anonymously confirmed to Yoda that at the beginning of this year school principals at the teachers' councils were told that now "Moscow is ready to teach only children with Moscow registration." Registration from students is now required not only by Moscow schools. “Our director’s granddaughter, registered in Moscow, studies at a school in the Moscow region. And in that school they demanded registration near Moscow. They say that the budgets are different, and Moscow is ready to teach only its children from its own money, and the region from its own money - only its own,” says a teacher in one of the Moscow schools.

In February of this year, Vera Pankova told Nurbek, a citizen of Uzbekistan, who has been permanently living in Russia for ten years, who is the director of school No. deducts them.

“Not once in all these years has anyone at school asked me about the registration of my sons! The boys studied well, they had no problems with teachers. I also respected the Russian law: I always did all the paperwork for my family,” says Nurbek.

This fall, Nurbek's sons expired their temporary residence permit in Russia for three years. Nurbek has a residence permit in Russia, he has his own house in Tver and a permanent job. Nurbek also wanted to get a residence permit for his sons and wife. But he was refused on the grounds that his wife does not work, and the children are inscribed in her passport.

“I explained that my wife is at home with her youngest son and daughter. How can she work? I also own a home and a job. All the same, the boys were not allowed residence permits,” Nurbek is indignant.

They also refused to register Nurbek's children and explained that the boys had to cross the border with Russia. “I earn 40-50 thousand for the whole family. I do not have the opportunity to take and buy two-way tickets for children. We need to save up and save money for this,” Nurbek explains.

In February of this year, Nurbek was summoned to the director and demanded that he urgently provide the registration of his sons. The school administration gave him five days to complete the paperwork. “The children were expelled on the same day. They demanded to turn in their textbooks, they did not even offer to transfer them temporarily to home schooling. I asked to be given the opportunity to complete my studies before the end of the year, I promised to register by this date. The director replied that if she did not immediately expel my children, the FMS would fine the school for 400,000 rubles. The children were very upset. The elder loves to study very much, he is going to the university to become an engineer, then he wants to leave for Germany. Teachers say that the son has great abilities for foreign languages. After school, the younger one planned to study at a technical school to study mechanics. I worked so much not to make my children run aground without education and decided to fight for them,” says Nurbek. He sued the school. And won it. According to Stasia Denisova, an employee of the Civic Assistance Committee, the court recognized that the expulsion of Nurbek's children is illegal, because it violates the federal law "On Education", the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Russia has ratified. “The demands of the local Federal Migration Service to expel children due to lack of registration also had no legal basis. The court recognized that it is not the task of the school to identify foreign citizens among students and expel them for lack of registration,” Denisova said.

According to Nurbek, director Pankova approached him after the end of the trial and said that she would challenge the court decision. “She was very indignant that I, a migrant, dared to sue a Russian school. I tried to convince her that I did not want to humiliate or insult anyone. I just want my kids to get an education. Then she said: “If you have money for the courts, then you can afford to teach children on a paid basis,” says Nurbek.

Pankova told Yoda correspondent that she did not plan to interfere with Nurbek's children from studying. “I only ask that they register with the migration authorities as soon as possible. No, the FMS is not putting pressure on me, it’s just necessary, ”said Pankova.

Nurbek assures that his children have already received a temporary residence permit, they have registration and the school knows this.

In the Federal Migration Service for the Tver Region, Nurbek was met halfway only after the intervention of the lawyers of Civic Assistance. “Secondary schools are now demanding registration not only for the children of migrants from Central Asia, but also for Russians who have moved to another city, and for refugees. For example, in the city of Naginsk near Moscow, we opened a school for Syrian refugee children who are not accepted into Russian schools contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We failed to find mutual understanding with the Department of the Federal Migration Service of Noginsk. When we came to meet them, employees of this organization began to illegally check the documents of human rights activists,” says Olga Nikolaenko, director of the Center for Adaptation and Education of Refugee Children.

Read us at