The Ministry of Education proposes to increase the number of history lessons at the expense of social studies

The Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation proposes to increase by almost one and a half times the number of hours for studying history in the school curriculum by adjusting the social studies course, which is planned to begin teaching only from the 9th grade. The department presented a draft corresponding order for public discussion. The Ministry of Education explained to Kommersant that “teachers will be able to model lessons more interesting and richer” and assured that “the changes will not entail difficulties in passing the OGE in the ninth grade.” Representatives of the educational community note that “there is not a single precedent in the school curriculum when the OGE is taken after an entire year of studying the subject,” and complain that no one discussed the reform with them.

The Ministry of Education proposes to increase the number of teaching hours in history by almost one and a half times: from 340 to 476. This follows from draft order department released Thursday for public comment. From 5th to 8th grade history is planned to be taught three times a week, in 9th grade – twice. Also, the subject “History of our region” will be integrated into the training course, which will replace the subject “Fundamentals of the spiritual and moral culture of the peoples of Russia.” The draft order assumes that the changes will come into force on September 1, 2025.

Additional time for studying history will be available thanks to changes in the social studies curriculum.

The document proposes that 34 hours be devoted to social studies in the 9th grade, and the subject will not be taught until the 9th grade. Now social studies is studied from the 6th grade (from the 6th to the 8th grade, schoolchildren have 102 lessons).

The explanatory note states that the changes were prepared “in accordance with the model of teaching “Social Studies” in grades 9–11, approved by the minutes of the meeting of the extended presidium of the interdepartmental commission on historical education dated November 10, 2023.”

When commenting on the presented document, users on social networks pay attention primarily to typos both in the draft order itself and in the explanatory note. Thus, one commentator wonders what is meant by the topic “Information Warriors” for 9th grade and whether it can be assumed that there should still be “wars” there. “The document is very crude, it’s clear that it was prepared in a hurry,” they complain in a group for teachers on VK.

Let us note that information about a possible reduction of the social studies course in the school curriculum appeared earlier. “We have been teaching this subject since the 6th and 7th grades, and now it will be promoted to the senior level,” said Ekaterina Altabaeva, deputy head of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture of the Federation Council, in an interview at the end of January. “But that’s not the main thing, but the fact is that the program is already changing. Because its content does not correspond to the sovereign education system, the unified educational process that we are now building.” The professional community has also been talking about possible reform for a long time. In particular, changes in the program “leaked by insiders” were discussed on social networks, some of which appear in the published document. In December 2023, the head of the Ministry of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, at the All-Russian Forum of History Teachers at VDNKh, in response to questions from event participants who expressed concern about these changes, said: “If the adjustment is towards history, the social studies course should in no case suffer.” .

History and social studies tutor Andrei Oshchepkov posted information on social networks about proposed changes to programs back in December. According to him, although teachers are worried, in the 6th and 7th grades it is really possible to do without social studies: “For a long time we taught social studies from the 8th grade, and it was quite effective, but teaching everything from the 9th “It’s too late.” Mr. Oshchepkov also notes that recently the social studies course has been undergoing serious semantic changes. “All the programs discussed significantly reduce the block of philosophy and globalization topics; the document under discussion clearly strengthens the historical component,” the expert emphasizes. He insists that “a lot of work will have to be done to change the OGE and the Unified State Exam.”

“There is not a single precedent in the school curriculum when the OGE is taken after a whole year of studying a subject,” continues this idea, the head of the “Independent Laboratory of Education” project, USE researcher Anton Chubukov. “But now the fate of the OGE and USE in social studies is unclear, even at the level of rumors.” . The expert believes that changes in the curriculum could “reduce the importance of social studies in the eyes of both schoolchildren and teachers”: “In primary schools, it already has a reputation as an “easy” subject – now it is the most popular elective exam. Many ninth-graders think it’s not difficult to pass.” Mr. Chubukov notes: the professional community “is irritated that the reform was prepared in secret, and the schedule and educational standards are being revised without the advice and participation of teachers.” “It would be right to organize a constructive discussion of the reform, and in particular the new educational and methodological complex,” the expert is sure. “Proofreading of materials by a wide range of practicing specialists will help improve the level of manuals and avoid the need for speedy reprints.”

The Ministry of Education explained to Kommersant that “due to these changes, teachers will be able to model their lessons more interesting and richer for students, expanding their knowledge of the connection between history and their native land, history and culture.” The department emphasizes that the workload on schoolchildren will not increase, and the updated social studies course will have a more practice-oriented presentation of material. “The changes will not entail any difficulties in passing the OGE in the 9th grade; the exam will be adapted to the updated course,” the ministry added.

Polina Yachmennikova