School innovations: 86% of readers assess changes in education positively

Studying, classes, clubs and sections are among the main priorities of Russian families, as shown by data from almost any social survey of the last 5 years. In order for children to have equal opportunities, Russia is undergoing a large-scale development of a unified educational space. Innovations in schools will help any child gain access to quality education. Part of these positive changes was the introduction of updated federal state educational standards (FSES), and then the emergence of federal programs and unified lines of textbooks. This academic year, which began in the Year of the Teacher and Mentor, will see the largest number of new opportunities for schoolchildren, which they have already appreciated in the first two months of school.

What do Russians think?

The topic of changes in education affects not only children and their teachers. It resonates in the soul of every resident of Russia, because schoolchildren are our children, our future, the future of our country. The editors of Moskovsky Komsomolets could not stand aside either. We conducted an open survey to find out how Russians evaluate the introduction of a unified educational environment in schools?

As it turned out, the majority – 86% – support the changes and believe that the creation of a unified educational environment throughout the country is a good thing.

“We have been waiting for this for a long time. Several years ago we moved to another city, our eldest son went to a new school, and for the first six months we were virtually without sleep, trying to help him catch up with the program. I didn’t understand why there are such differences in the same class in neighboring cities, children should not suffer, and if they have now made a single program, this is the most correct decision,” shared reader Elizaveta Boyko from the Krasnodar Territory.

So far there has been no consensus in support of the changes. Some parents still doubt that updating the Federal State Educational Standard is an important and socially significant process. However, only 8% of readers believe that everything should have been left as it was.

Why are Federal State Educational Standards needed?

To debunk all fears and rumors, let’s try to figure it out: what kind of “beast” is the Federal State Educational Standard? Only through the introduction of updated Federal State Educational Standards will a unified educational space appear throughout the country. This means that a student at a gymnasium in the capital and a teenager from a rural area in Birobidzhan will have equal opportunities for development: they will receive equally comfortable classes, delicious food in the canteen, warm gyms, programs for studying physics and chemistry, as well as educational lessons. If a child needs to move from one school to another, he will no longer need to “catch up” or “wait” for classmates. And graduates will be able to smoothly move from school to institute or college, and then begin their career path.

“Creating equal conditions for receiving quality education, developing children’s talents, and patriotic education of young citizens are our national priority goals. Based on the best achievements of domestic pedagogy, we are building a sovereign education system, the basis of which is the traditional spiritual and moral values ​​of Russia. And we will not turn away from this path!” – said Russian Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov during the All-Russian conference dedicated to the transition of schools to the updated Federal State Educational Standards.

Educational programs for everyone

Starting from this academic year, educational organizations will work according to the federal basic educational programs (FOEP) in a number of subjects. For elementary school, this is the Russian language, literary reading and the world around us. For basic general and secondary general education – Russian language, literature, history, social studies and geography, basics of life safety. This means the introduction of uniform curricula and standards in school education, which makes it possible to unify curricula and educational activities and ensure that every student receives the same education, regardless of where they live.

The transition to FOOP-2023 is the result of a long-term study. It is not for nothing that it was called the “Gold Standard”.

It is worth noting that the work programs offered to teachers are a basic tool. If the teacher can adapt them specifically to his own style of teaching or improve them, this is by no means forbidden.

The lessons everyone was waiting for

In addition, it will now become easier for schoolchildren to decide on their future, because starting from this academic year in Russia, a career guidance minimum has been introduced in all schools for children in grades 6–11. Every Thursday, middle and high school students are introduced to the current state and prospects for the development of economic sectors, told about the regional and federal labor markets, and in-demand professions.

To form common values ​​for every Russian, another extracurricular subject has been introduced in schools. On Mondays, children can discuss with their class teacher topics related to key aspects of human life in modern Russia during the “Conversations about Important” lessons. This is the time for that very upbringing that parents talked so much about. Now the school not only teaches, but also helps to form the correct values ​​in the child.

Also, starting this year, schools will have a course of lessons on basic military training. It will include both theoretical and practical classes.

To help teachers

It is impossible to change the educational sphere for the better without affecting teachers. In recent years, a lot has been done to remove some of the bureaucratic burden from teachers. This is necessary so that the teacher does not “burn out”, does not get bogged down in paperwork, but can direct all his efforts specifically to nurturing the talents of his students.

Photo: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation