A new school year began for 17 million Russian schoolchildren on September 1. Children and their parents are particularly happy that it will be in-person learning and not remote one as the epidemiological situation in most Russian regions is currently stable.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federal State Agency for Health and Consumer Rights (Rospotrebnadzor) is constantly monitoring the epidemiological situation in the country. That is why it has issued a requirement that planned events on the occasion of the beginning of the school year, to be more precise, celebratory assembly, must be organised “for each grade or all students in the same year outdoors with the use of personal protective equipment (face masks) for parents.”
The day before, Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said that there were no legislative initiatives or rulings to introduce home distance learning. According to him, remote learning was a “forced measure” that helped keep people healthy during the most acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is no vaccine for children, and there can be no requirement to prevent them from entering schools without vaccination,” Kravtsov said. Regarding vaccination of teachers “many people get vaccinated voluntarily, and this significantly reduces the risk of getting infected,” he said.
On September 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated teachers, students and their parents on the start of the new school year. Christmas and New Year public holidays are ones of the favourite holidays in the country but September 1 is also New Year but only a new school year, RIA Novosti wrote citing Vladimir Putin.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate children, the first graders who will go to school for the first time, and their parents,” Putin said.
Almost 2 million children went to school for the first time this year, which is 90,000 more than last year.
From this academic year onwards, the Russian flag is to be hoisted in schools. This initiative has been implemented by the Ministry of Education. As known, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently approved it.
On September 1, 130 new schools in Russia have opened their doors to students as part of the Education national project. Almost everything there, from the design of classrooms to the equipment of canteens and menu, meets the latest standards. The Zemsky Uchitel programme, which started a year ago, will continue in the new academic year. It is aimed at attracting teaching staff to rural schools. If a young teacher is ready to work in the village for five years, he or she will be paid 1 million roubles ($13,650).