Single educational space: experience of new regions

Much has been done, much remains to be done

New regions are actively being included in the unified educational space of Russia. Schools are being built and renovated, new equipment and textbooks are brought in for classes, and teachers improve their skills. The “Faces of Friendship” project is in full swing, thanks to which schools in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions have sister schools in other regions, and thus they are integrated into a single Russian educational and cultural space.

To date, 1,114 schools in new regions have already become twin cities with educational organizations from different regions of the country. By the end of the year they will all find their brothers-in-arms. The Faces of Friendship project provides an opportunity for schoolchildren and their teachers from different parts of Russia to interact. The children are rediscovering our country, seeing the high quality of Russian education, and participating in various programs. As part of the project, holiday marathons, open lessons, competitions and teleconferences are held aimed at building bridges of friendship and sharing experiences between educational organizations. School chefs participate in repair and restoration work, supply equipment, and help organize children’s recreation in health institutions.

This year, the Russian President signed a law on the integration of new regions into the country’s educational sphere. According to the document, schools in the newly annexed territories should soon reach the all-Russian level in terms of the quality of infrastructure and educational content. The new regions are provided with comprehensive support by the Ministry of Education of Russia and the leading regions. Thus, this year, 1.9 million textbooks, 61,087 pieces of furniture, 12,680 pieces of catering equipment, and 33,233 pieces of sports equipment were supplied to educational organizations in new regions. Today, more than 113,500 children receive hot meals. 19,772 teaching staff underwent advanced training. In addition, from the beginning of this year, they are provided with a payment of 5,000 rubles for class management. 385 educational organizations have been overhauled. By the way, starting next year, schools in new regions will be included in the federal capital repair program.

In addition, the Childhood Navigators project began operating in new regions in January. Educational spaces are organized in educational institutions: school theaters, museums, media centers, sports and film clubs, centers for children’s initiatives. With the support of advisors to directors, schoolchildren take part in all-Russian competitions, attend educational forums and conferences, and thematic camp sessions in the best children’s centers in the country. All this is the foundation for the development of initiatives of children and youth.

“From the moment I started working as an advisor to the director of education, my life has become much brighter and more interesting. I attended a huge number of educational programs, conferences, and I consider the creation of a school theater to be one of the main directions of my work. Parents and children enthusiastically supported this idea. The plans include performances for children, parents, older people and veterans, and for air defense soldiers. In 2024, we, like our entire huge country, will celebrate the anniversary of the great poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. It’s great that thanks to the Pushkin Map, children have the opportunity to get acquainted with the best examples of Russian history, science, culture and art,” said Nadezhda Khitrikova, advisor to the director of the Makeevka Gymnasium of the DPR.

“Today we face important tasks of development and transformation of the education system. The main directions: integration into the Russian educational space, the formation of a system for assessing the quality of education, the introduction of working educational programs and approximate calendar plans for educational work, the creation of a system for identifying and supporting gifted children,” shared the head of the Ministry of Education and Science of the DPR Olga Koludarova.

Photo: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation