Putin agreed with Kant: the presidential scholarship will be raised to 30 thousand

The President flew to Kaliningrad on St. Tatiana’s Day. One of the first meetings of the head of state on the Amber Coast was a visit to the Baltic Federal University. Kant. There, on the new campus, Putin answered questions from Kaliningrad students: from demography to the sayings of Immanuel Kant.

— Since 1755, when Elizaveta Petrovna signed the decree on the creation of Moscow State University, we have been celebrating this holiday – what does this mean? – Putin asked. — That we have constantly, over the centuries, attached great importance to the development of education.

Already at the beginning of the meeting, we discussed the figure – 77% of families today want their children to receive a higher education. Is there a need for so many specialists, and in general, what “universal competencies for the labor market” should one have today, a student at the Faculty of Psychology at IKBFU asked Putin.

“Yes, earlier 50% of parents believed that their child needed a higher education, now more than 70%,” the president said. And he suggested that this is facilitated by “the state’s policy to increase budget places.” The President said that the size of the presidential scholarship had been increased to 30 thousand rubles, and it was decided to raise the government scholarship to 20 thousand rubles.

At the meeting, we touched upon current topics of specialty and obtaining pedagogical education. Regarding the two types of diplomas, Putin assured everyone that “there will be no discrimination.”

“IKBFU is participating in the experiment (the university is among 6 universities that are moving from bachelor’s to specialist’s degrees. – Author),” Putin recalled. — There will be basic education for 4–6 years, then a specialty for 2–3 years, a separate level is graduate school. The expert community came to the conclusion that this is the best way to obtain a specialty. All documents and diplomas are equal. We will smoothly transition to the new system, no one will have any problems.”

Speaking about trends in teacher education, the president recalled a conversation with Patriarch Kirill.

— The classics said that the main task of a teacher is to raise happy people. The main thing is to “educate,” Putin emphasized. “The Patriarch said: “You will give knowledge, the main thing is to educate.” But I am inclined to believe that everything is important as a whole. To educate and provide knowledge based on our cultural values.

The meeting with students in Kaliningrad lasted more than two hours, and Putin’s famous notebook was used more than once. A young student family, for example, asked for family rooms, changing rooms, and playgrounds to be created on all campuses in the country.

The President somewhat stunned everyone by saying that “no one knows what the essence of demographic processes is.” And all because “the further you go, the more difficult it is, because people’s priorities change.” Especially for young women, “it’s more difficult for them.”

— You need to get a higher education, post-graduate education, take the first steps in your career – everything seems to be right. But this is called a delayed first child. “He appears at 30,” the president said. “That’s why a family should be born earlier.” Why did they introduce maternity capital for the first child, benefits for the purchase of housing, and mortgages for young families at 6%.

But most of all Putin was asked about Kant. First, about the philosopher’s famous phrase “Enlightenment is the courage to use one’s own mind.”

“Kant was a subject of the Russian Empire (at one time),” the president responded. — As a result of the Seven Years’ War, East Prussia became part of Russia, and the citizens swore allegiance to the Russian throne. Including university teachers, including Kant. It is known that he taught Russian officers. And the phrase is very correct. Some have forgotten that you need to live with your own mind.

Next, the president recalled that it was he who once proposed naming the Baltic Federal University after Kant. The head of state recalled his meetings with the Chancellor of Germany and the fact that German, Polish, Prussian and, of course, Russian history were intertwined on Kaliningrad soil. “I consider the proposal important,” the president concluded.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29203 dated January 26, 2024

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Putin agreed with Kant