Russian education minister: moral guidance in kindergartens more important than reading

Russia's Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov has stated that preschool institutions should place greater emphasis on cultivating so-called "moral guidelines" among children than on fundamental skills such as reading and writing.

The statement fits into a broader pattern in which Russian state authorities are increasingly focusing on spreading ideological and propaganda influence at the very start of the education system — in kindergartens. This suggests that Russia's leadership considers it important to shape children's worldview according to state-defined values and ideological positions from the earliest possible age.

The source report does not specify any concrete measures or curricula that would be introduced as a result of this statement. However, the minister's remarks point to a reordering of priorities within the education system, where ideological upbringing is being placed ahead of the traditional academic skills normally expected from preschool education.

This approach reflects a wider Russian state policy in recent years aimed at strengthening ideological content throughout the education system at all levels — from kindergartens to universities.