Students expressing delight: Education Ministry shortens forthcoming academic year - comments by Volodin
The Russian education system is set to undergo some significant changes in the upcoming academic year, as announced by Vyacheslav Volodin, the State Duma Speaker.
In an effort to improve the learning experience and reduce student fatigue, the academic calendar will see holidays lasting at least seven days each during Autumn, Winter, and Spring. The decision is part of a larger initiative to ensure compliance with sanitary norms.
One of the key areas of focus is the transformation of homework, not its abolition. Volodin intends to formulate proposals for changing the approach to homework, aiming to remove formalism and retain assignments that develop material retention, critical thinking, independence, and creative approaches.
The Ministry of Education has already sent recommendations on the formats for these changes to all regions. Schools will have the option to choose between quarterly or trimester formats for the academic year.
In addition, a recommended additional week-long holiday for first-graders is planned for February.
Vyacheslav Volodin has also proposed evaluating the effectiveness of homework, as he has collected tens of thousands of responses regarding excessive workload. The topic of workload will be revisited in the nearest month.
Looking ahead, the 2025-2026 academic year will begin on September 1 and conclude on May 26. Summer holidays will extend from May 27 to August 31, 2026.
Cancellation of formal homework is being considered as an option, but the specifics of these changes are yet to be announced.
As always, for official changes in Russian education, it is recommended to consult authoritative Russian education ministry sources or official announcements closer to or during the academic year.
In light of the planned changes in the Russian education system, there is an emphasis on education-and-self-development by focusing on improving the learning experience and reducing student fatigue through extended holidays. general-news also highlights Vyacheslav Volodin's proposal to reevaluate the effectiveness of homework and the potential cancellation of formal homework as part of this broader initiative.
