Russia will establish academic guidelines for home assignments
In a groundbreaking move, the Russian education system is introducing strict standards for homework beginning September 2025, as unveiled by the Minister of Education, Sergey Kravtsov. This announcement was made during an expanded joint meeting of State Duma committees, as reported by the government press service.
This move forms part of federal educational programs approved by a recent law, also setting academic scheduling and the number of tests and checks. Kravtsov emphasized that the order has been agreed upon with Rospotrebnadzor, adhering to all guidelines to steer clear of heaping unnecessary workload on students.
The core objective of this initiative is to lessen the burden on students and establish a more balanced educational system.
The Ministry of Education has also set guidelines for teachers' work hours. According to "RIA Novosti," these recommendations state that first-graders should not spend more than an hour on homework daily. For second and third-graders, the limit extends to 1.5 hours, and for fourth-graders, it's capped at two hours.
In addition to regulating the volume of homework, these norms are part of the unified academic scheduling. The number of tests and checks, including nationwide ones, is also limited to not exceed 10% of the total number of lessons per subject.
In a previous development in 2023, the Ministry of Education recommended limiting the use of AI in schools while performing homework, and a pilot project was launched in 2024 to explore innovative educational methods[1]. The Russian education system has been undergoing changes, including the introduction of neural networks and a focus on the Russian Math program for its rigorous STEM education[1][2]. Military-patriotic education is also being incorporated into the curriculum, reflecting broader societal and political objectives[5]. However, the specific details about the upcoming standards for homework volume can be found in official educational resources or announcements from the Russian Ministry of Education.
This educational reform, initiated by the Russian Ministry of Education, aims to balance the workload of students through strict homework standards, which are part of the federal educational programs and unified academic scheduling. Simultaneously, the ministry is also addressing the broader political landscape, as seen in the inclusion of military-patriotic education within the curriculum.
