Russia expands 'traditional values' education — starting from kindergarten

As the new school year begins in Russia, the education system is showing signs of intensified ideological oversight — extending not only to school-age children but also to the very youngest.

Schools to search for 'disloyal' students

This academic year, Russian schools will begin identifying students considered 'disloyal.' This suggests that educational institutions plan to pay closer attention to pupils who may not support the state's designated direction or value system.

Kindergartens also under focus

However, state attention is not limited to school-age children. This autumn, two new projects are being launched in Russian kindergartens, aimed at raising children according to so-called 'traditional spiritual and moral values.' This indicates that ideological upbringing in the country is being pushed to increasingly younger ages, now reaching preschool institutions as well.

Both developments — the screening of students for 'loyalty' and the introduction of new kindergarten projects — point to a broader trend in Russian education policy, in which the state is becoming more deeply involved in shaping the content of children's and young people's upbringing and values from the earliest possible age. Further details on how exactly 'disloyal' students will be identified in schools, or on the specific content and implementation of the new kindergarten projects, have not yet been disclosed.