The State Duma approved the spiritual and moral foundations of the education system of the Russian Federation

“Non-abstract humanism”, scientific cooperation with the CIS and “sovereign” personal development

While in schools and parent chats they are still “chewing” on banned phones and newfound labor lessons, a velvet revolution has occurred at the highest level. Quietly, without noise and dust, the State Duma passed its final reading of a bill that radically changes the domestic education system. The changes will affect everyone, from kindergartens to graduate schools.

The adopted bill amends the federal law “On Education”. All changes lie on the ideological plane, but what is written in them is all the more important.

Let’s look at the explanatory note of the law already adopted in parliament. The first lines contain a direct reference to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the article on the right to education. Which provides everyone with “intellectual, moral, physical development of the individual.” Based on considerations of the sovereignty of the state and the “common destiny of a multinational people,” the deputies decide that this right should be based “on the cultural and historical heritage” and meet the “vitally important prospects of Russian civilization.”

Further in the description it is said that the previously existing Law “On Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education” included the achievements and traditions of Russian higher education in the world system of higher education. And now the authors point to the CIS countries and their experience of sovereign scientific activity in this matter.

Another interesting remark: education in the Russian Federation must correspond to “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values,” and any changes in the field of education must “have a scientific basis.” Okay, morality, at least there are criteria for scientific evaluation. But spirituality… “You can’t measure it with a common yardstick”, “you can’t understand it with your mind” – on what will “scientific” measurements be based?..

The declared synthesis of the upcoming national education system, which should combine “all the best from the USSR” with the useful things that have been developed in recent years, is also opaque. There are no specifics. But there is again a classic: “you can’t harness one cart…”

However, these small details should not overshadow the whole picture when it comes to the basics. It is said that education will be focused on “the tasks of development of the state and society.”

The legislators see the following as the tasks of national education: training “the specialists the country needs,” raising children “in the spirit of respect for traditional values,” preserving the continuity of generations. Moreover, students should develop such skills as “cognitive activity, initiative, creativity.” And also “the ability to work and volunteer.”

And one more, no less important change in the law. Quote in full: “Humanism precisely as the basis of state policy and legal regulation in the relevant field should not be interpreted in a universally abstract sense, but must be disclosed and implemented in practice in accordance with traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”

“It’s difficult to predict what exactly all this will lead to,” says Nina Viktorova, a mathematics teacher at a Moscow school. “Perhaps this is only a reinforcement of the “conversations about what is important” that already exist in schools; they did not have time to implement it into law then. Or maybe there will be some other changes. But in general, as a teacher with 37 years of experience, I can make assumptions. Most likely, strong schools that are quite independent will lose some of their independence. And those with lower ratings will begin to promote social work even more actively. Here I can judge from some of my colleagues, from their schools, where they are already running ahead of the locomotive. They are required to register not only 60-70%, but 100% of students not only on educational platforms, Olympiad competitions or career guidance. But also in all kinds of patriotic movements, actions and volunteering. There is nothing new under the sun; schools that did not rely on good knowledge existed before. But here’s another detail. More than half of our teachers are “old”; many of my peers are working. But the children have changed a lot. They are not ready to accept unconditionally everything that is told to them.”

Starting from September next year, CVT should return to the school curriculum with elements of combat formation and training in operating UAVs. With the latest Duma amendments to federal educational legislation, home economics and “labor education” have been returned to schools, for which parental permission is no longer required. Most likely, a subject such as “family studies” will also be included in the general schedule.