The State Duma insists on the return of after-school education: “Like in the USSR”

The State Duma is calling for extended day groups to be returned to schools “as before” – so that homework can be completed until seven o’clock in the evening. Like, in one fell swoop we’ll relieve parents and save children from harmful gadgets.

State Duma deputy Boris Chernyshov made a statement about the return of full-fledged after-school education and a letter on this topic to the educational department and the cabinet of ministers.

“Extended hours until six to eight o’clock in the evening should become the norm for most schoolchildren and should include classes in sports and creative sections, individual work on homework and team work on research projects,” the deputy suggests.

Like, it’s bad enough: the GPA will also help the older generation to “more actively realize themselves in work, build a career and provide for their children more confidently.” And for children there is one continuous benefit: clubs, sections, science and, at the same time, a distraction from computers and phones. To which, according to Chernyshov’s argumentation, schoolchildren “devote 4.5-5 hours a day” (and some 9-11 hours, according to experience). Which, of course, “interferes with the development of thinking and negatively affects the psychological state” of children, the parliamentarian believes.

He also believes that adults will also save on children’s additional education by using free clubs and sections on the GPD. In general, boys and girls, as well as their parents, benefit from after-school care. Almost manna from heaven, three loaves for everyone. For free or for “affordable” (as in the document – author).

Meanwhile, parents who really hoped for a return to after-school schools “like in the USSR” were convinced of the truth of the saying “they wait three years for what was promised.” After all, back in 2021, the State Duma, acting on instructions from the president, ratified a change to the federal law “On Education”, returning full-fledged GPA to schools.

And already in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova instructed the regions to “consider the possibility of organizing an after-school program in schools until 8 pm.” But things are there now. Although the performers were supposed to report by March 2023.

Today, in fact, there are after-school programs in no more than a third of schools in the country. And where available, it works until 16 hours. Occasionally there are schools with children’s groups until 19 and even until 21 hours. But there are only a few of them. And the reason is not the lack of need for such “late” groups, but the fact that even the regional price of such a “long extension” has risen to 16-18 thousand rubles per month. And this is also a subsidized option.

“I remember well how, after the adoption of the law and orders in this regard, they tried to make GPA in schools,” says methodologist and teacher Anastasia Gordeeva. — From the regions then they wrote a lot about how they were pushing teachers, forcing this very administration of the GAP by force, some for 5 thousand a month, and some for a thousand, and for some just like that. But even threats to deprive them of bonuses and incentives had no effect. Teachers are already overloaded – that’s it. Many perceived sitting in the police department as a second shift and demanded appropriate payment, at least another 1.5 times the salary.

It’s probably time to remind you that the vast majority of schools today are self-financing. And for them, the GPA is a burden that cannot be afforded. Sitting with children until 19-20 hours (teacher and nanny), doing homework with them (essentially, tutoring) means new standard hours for employees, changes in tariff plans, an increase in the tariff schedule. It is important that this is not only an additional financial burden, but also a tightening of responsibility in general. According to the law, the administration is responsible for everything that happens in the school itself and on the school grounds during school hours (GPA too). Now let’s remember how often in Soviet times children ran away from after school…

It turns out that “GPA with lessons” was one of the significant achievements in the USSR. There is no analogue in the world today. Because “sitting” with the teacher, which actually included walks, sports activities and homework, was paid entirely by the state.

Today, elements of such a GAP have been implemented in first world countries. In Japan, for example, there are many school clubs, including scientific ones and for project activities, but they are completely paid.

In the developing People’s Republic of China, even though the country is a “people’s democracy,” there are no “Soviet” groups. They work there “tuoguan ban” (supervision class). This is an analogue of an after-school program up to 17-18 hours, which “offers children food, rest and the opportunity to do homework.” But mostly tuoguan classes are paid.

In Germany, a system of similar GPA “school camps” has been created after main classes, and they are completely paid. Just like the French system of “accueils de loisirs périscolaires”: sports, arts, crafts, games under the supervision of teachers. Interestingly, this is a separate organization that works in schools. But behind the school there are “classe verte”, also known as “green days”: environmental trips, excursions after school. Both are paid. At the same time, there is an extensive system of benefits for children from low-income families, disabled people and other socially vulnerable categories, the GPA and trips for which are subsidized by the state.

Even in Scandinavia, famous for its “socialism,” not everything is clear. In Finland, for example, full-time care until late and with payment from the state applies only to preschoolers. The Frösler school system in Sweden and Norway does not work until late, only until 17-18 hours. Funding for groups is often municipal. But not always. For a full-fledged “frösler” without food, parents shell out an amount similar to 700 dollars a month, with food – about 800. The functions of the GPA include looking after children, going for walks, and doing homework. Clubs in music, languages, various other disciplines and sports (except for exercises) are not included in the price tag.