New textbooks: teachers positively assessed the creation of high-quality literature

Schoolchildren will receive modern textbooks in all subjects

The Unified Educational Environment, which is being created in Russia today, includes several points. This is an educational program, an upbringing program, a calendar of educational events, a career guidance model, and unified textbooks. The latter must balance programs in schools and give children from different regions the opportunity to receive the same amount of knowledge. By September 1, Russian schools had already received history textbooks for 11th grades, and during 2023–2025 textbooks in all subjects will be prepared.

Overall, the number of textbooks purchased in 2023 is almost 12 million units more than last year, amounting to 66 million textbooks. The soloist among this year’s textbooks is, of course, the first state textbook for grades 10–11 on the history of Russia, edited by Vladimir Medinsky and Anatoly Torkunov, and on general history, edited by Vladimir Medinsky and Alexander Chubaryan. The new product was the first sign of a large process to develop a unified educational environment. More than 755 thousand copies were delivered to all regions of the country.

According to an open survey conducted by MK, almost half (48%) of readers believe that the new textbook has greatly facilitated the process of preparing teachers for lessons. It is based on the principles of historical sovereignty, objectivity of historical knowledge, continuity of history and respect for the past of our country. Teachers pay attention to the fact that additional material on topics placed after the paragraphs helps students study the topic in detail by familiarizing themselves with archival materials, photo and video content. Moreover, all information is structured and verified.

“In my opinion, unified textbooks are an important stage in changing the education system, which leads to the unity of the educational space for Russian schoolchildren. I would like to note that the paragraphs are written in clear language, the questions are composed correctly and convey the main elements of the topic being studied. In addition, after the paragraphs there is additional material on the topic,” noted Victoria Skripnikova, history and social studies teacher at Nikolaev Secondary School in the Kamchatka Territory.

From the beginning of the school year, eleventh-graders study a course in general history, and then begin studying the history of Russia in the period from 1945 to the present day. The new textbook on the history of Russia also includes a section related to modern historical events.

“The textbook is very relevant and in demand; it gives children the opportunity to study archival materials and documents and draw conclusions about how world political trends have changed and why the decision was made to launch a special military operation. The information is presented competently, clearly, we can use the materials not only in lessons, but also in extracurricular activities, in the preparation of various events, in the work of our school museum,” says Elena Sengileeva, a teacher of history and social studies at the Brodkov school in the Pavlovsky district of the Altai Territory.

Among the important distinctive features of the new textbook are the format for presenting materials, the presence of QR codes, a clear and accessible style of presentation for everyone, as well as an educational aspect. Currently, preparations are already underway for the next academic year: all regions have ordered new textbooks for 10th grade. Over 720 thousand copies of books will be delivered to all schools in the country.

Already, the Ministry of Education of Russia is developing a new textbook on social studies, part of which will be devoted to financial literacy, and the key idea will be understanding the absolute value of the state sovereignty of Russia, as a prerequisite for the successful development and prosperity of Russian society, every family and every person.

After development work is completed, one textbook will be included in the federal list for each subject, and not 10–15 lines, as was the case in the 90s of the last century. These will be modern and interesting publications that will shape the horizons of schoolchildren.

Photo: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation