“As part of the subject “the world around us”: history will be taught in Russian schools from the elementary grades

The study of history in Russian schools will be conducted from the first grade.

This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov at the first all-Russian school historical forum "Strength in Truth!".

“We will do everything to preserve the historical memory.

I have decided that historical education will begin in schools from the first grade, ”said Kravtsov.

At the same time, additional lessons for teaching history in elementary school will not be introduced, the minister specified.

According to him, children will be able to “study the history of their family, their region” within the framework of already existing subjects.

And after school hours, students will be able to visit museums and exhibitions, Kravtsov added. 

The head of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation stressed that historical education should be introduced in elementary school, and a full-fledged history course will, as before, begin in the 5th grade.

“History is being studied, it will be studied from the 5th grade.

But already from elementary school, one can discuss the history of one’s family, one’s region, one’s region, and one’s small homeland within the framework of the “world around” subject.

Visiting museums, exhibitions - this can be done as part of extracurricular, extracurricular activities, ”he said.

• Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov speaks at the First All-Russian School Historical Forum “Strength is in Truth!”

  at the Victory Museum in Moscow

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• © Maxim Blinov

In addition, Sergei Kravtsov said that a new chapter on education could be included in the federal law on education.

“An important step has already been taken when the president initiated a bill that was adopted two years ago - this is actually the return of education to school.

And the next step - perhaps we will have a separate chapter in the law on education - a chapter on education, ”the TASS minister quotes.

According to the head of the department, work is already underway in this direction, and the position of adviser to the director of educational institutions on education has been introduced in schools.

“We need to create an educational program”

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has already reacted to the Minister of Education's statement about the introduction of history studies in elementary schools.

He suggested inviting Sergei Kravtsov to the lower house of parliament to discuss the format of future lessons with the deputies.

“What will be taught, how they will be taught, must be discussed.

But such a form was adopted by the minister on the basis of what we talked about the need for a deeper knowledge of our history.

Let's invite the minister and those who will deal with these issues.

We don't care," he said.

• Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin

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• © Press Service of the State Duma of the Russian Federation

In turn, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Olga Kazakova, said that teaching history in schools from the first grade should be based on special textbooks.

“We need to create an educational program, we need to publish a textbook, methodological materials, train teachers who will be ready to teach such a course in the first grade.

For the first grade, we cannot use a tenth grade textbook: each age has its own educational program corresponding to this age,” the deputy explained.

Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova positively assessed the idea of ​​teaching history in elementary school, but noted that this issue should be considered systematically.

“The idea is right.

But it must be considered not in isolation, but in a system of general measures, understanding what we are doing, what kind of plan we have and what results we want to achieve, ”the senator said in a comment to RT.

In her opinion, it is necessary to take a comprehensive approach to the issue of education and teaching both history and other "subjects of the humanitarian cycle."

In turn, Ekaterina Altabayeva, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture, in an interview with RT, also proposed introducing a patriotic course in stories about the history of Russia in the 4th grade.

“Studying the history of your homeland is, of course, a very useful and necessary thing.

I don’t know how from the 1st grade, but I would very much like that in the 4th grade (as the concept of teaching the history of Russia, approved in 2020, assumed), a patriotic course of stories about the history of Russia was taught as a separate course for 34 hours.

Well, elements of the history of Russia should be taught from the first grade, ”said the senator.

Altabayeva noted that the basics of regional history should also be taught in elementary school.

• RIA News

• © Konstantin Chalabov

“And little children - already in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade - need to be taught the bright pages of the history of their homeland.

And our big Russia, and that small homeland where they were born and live.

This is very necessary and helpful.

Otherwise, you won’t grow normal people, ”the RT interlocutor concluded.

Yana Lantratova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, commented on the introduction of the study of history in primary grades.

She called this decision the right initiative and noted that "the study of history should be started as early as possible."

“But it is important to develop an age-appropriate program so that the subject arouses interest in children and is as clear as possible to them.

These should be simple, exciting images, presentation through game moments, watching movies and, of course, meeting with our heroes, veterans of the Great Patriotic War and other wars, while they are still alive.

Everything must be done to interest the children, ”said the deputy in an interview with RT. 

Under the Russian flag

Another innovation in the educational system, which Sergey Kravtsov spoke about as part of the Power in Truth! forum, will be the singing of the anthem in schools at the beginning of the school week and the raising of the national flag of Russia. 

“From September 1 of the next academic year, the anthem will be played in every school at the beginning of the school week and (will be held. -

) the raising of the state flag,” Kravtsov said.

• Schoolchildren during the ceremony dedicated to the Day of Knowledge at school No. 7 in the village of Prokhladnoye, Primorsky Krai

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• © Vitaly Ankov

Earlier, at a meeting of the public council of the project of the United Russia party "Historical Memory", Sergey Kravtsov said that the Ministry of Education plans to equip all schools with state symbols in 2022-2023.

“Today, on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, the ministry is working to equip schools with state symbols.

In 2022-2023, we plan to equip all schools.

We have also developed guidelines for the use of state symbols in education,” Kravtsov said.

It is worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to consider the issue of using the flag, coat of arms and anthem of Russia in schools in October last year.

On April 13, 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a corresponding decree.

According to Svetlana Bessarab, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, the decision to perform the anthem at the beginning of the school week corresponds to today's realities.

“Unfortunately, even in adulthood, not every Russian knows the words of our anthem.

And this is very unfortunate.

We love our country, but it is precisely this kind of omission that does not allow us to unite at the level of our state symbols.

But the anthem, the flag is what really unites us, ”Bessarab said in an interview with RT.

In turn, Yana Lantratova noted that, according to various opinion polls, "not all Russians know the words of the country's anthem, there are those who are unfamiliar even with its melody."

She stressed that it is from childhood that it is necessary to instill respect for the anthem.

“Explain to children that these are not just words, not just a song, but a reflection of the history of our country, its values ​​and culture,” the RT interlocutor concluded.