The upcoming academic year in Russia starts in the usual format of full-time education. This was announced by Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov during a government briefing.

“I want to emphasize that we are talking about the traditional, classical form of education from September 1. We are not planning to introduce distance learning. With all the advantages of distance forms, we consider them only as an addition. New opportunities for teachers and students will be organized through distance learning, but these are additional opportunities, ”Kravtsov said.

In particular, within the framework of the Digital Educational Environment project, it is planned to provide Wi-Fi in schools.

Currently, preparations are underway for the new academic year. The Minister expressed the hope that the epidemiological situation in Russia will allow traditional line-ups in schools on September 1.

“All the experience gained within the framework of the unified state examination will be used in organizing education in schools. All the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor will be taken into account in order to provide children and teachers as much as possible, ”the minister said.

  • Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov during a briefing at the House of Government of the Russian Federation
  • © Alexander Astafiev / RIA Novosti

Kravtsov also stressed that from September 1, the country's homeroom teachers will begin to receive monthly payments in the amount of 5 thousand rubles. In addition, a project is being launched to provide hot meals to primary school students.

“For this, all documents have been adopted by the government, there is money in the budget. We have no doubts that these two most important orders of the President of the Russian Federation will be fulfilled, ”the head of the Ministry of Education said.

Also during the briefing, the results of the Unified State Exam were summed up. We managed to avoid serious gaps in the knowledge of schoolchildren - fears did not materialize, Kravtsov noted. According to him, the Unified State Exam-2020 was passed as objectively as possible.

“The exam was held in all 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and 53 foreign countries. There were fears that some subjects, due to the situation with COVID-19, will not be able to conduct. This did not happen. The time for the exam was chosen very well, and we did not have subjects where at least one day of the exam was canceled due to an epidemic, ”added Anzor Muzaev, Acting Head of Rosobrnadzor.

In early July, Sergei Kravtsov said that on the Day of Knowledge, traditional lines will be held in Russian schools. Later, the ministry explained that the format of school rulers will depend on the situation with coronavirus infection COVID-19 in each constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

"The socializing function of the school is no less important than the educational one"

Even the thought of transferring Russian education to a full distance format should not be allowed. This was announced to RT by a member of the Public Chamber, chairman of the National Parents' Committee Irina Volynets.

“Distance education is possible as an auxiliary to the main one, in the case of, for example, the introduction of quarantine, or if a child, for example, for some reason cannot go to school, or disabilities, or the child is an athlete. It is the socializing function of the school that is no less important than the educational one. Therefore, of course, the parents of Russia are categorically against the total transition to distance learning, and this is understandable, ”she said.

  • © Vitaly Timkiv / RIA Novosti

Lilia Gumerova, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture, called it extremely important that education in schools will begin on September 1 in the traditional format, both for parents and teachers. According to her, there will never be such installations to transfer traditional education to a distance format.

“Unfortunately, the education sector, as well as other spheres - health care, social life - has been subjected to a stream of fake news, and, unfortunately, there have been many destructive forces, attempts to sow in the minds and hearts of our parents, children, that we are only talking about replacing traditional education with a distance format. You know, even our employees stopped me, clarified, indeed it is true that we will return to traditional education, "Gumerova said in an interview with RT.

The senator also stressed that the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the need to tweak the legislation that regulates distance education. 

“The amendment that we made to the law on education, the ability to switch to distance learning in the event of an emergency or high alert, it can be not only epidemics, but also natural disasters, floods. We just prescribed such a possibility, but only in order to ensure the continuity of education. Once again, I want to say - nothing will ever replace a live communication between a teacher and a student, a living teacher's word: look in the eyes, pat on the shoulder, ”concluded Gumerova.