School year starts in Russia

September 1st is the start of the school year for school and university students and teachers. First-graders are welcomed with special solemnity. The first bell is rung, traditionally an 11th grader carries a 1st grader with a bell in his hand around the people gathered.

At the working meeting of Russian Premier Vladimir Putin with Minister of Education Andrey Fursenko on August 6th 2010, they discussed the preparations of schools and higher education centers for the year ahead, including in the regions that have suffered from emergency situations, the admission board of higher education centers and support for the innovative development of Russian higher education centers, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the Russian Ministry of Education, there are 1,431,646 first-graders in 2010. A total of 12.8 million children are school students, which is 150,000 less than last year. The falling number of students started in 1998/1999, when there were 22 million children.

There are 1.2 million school teachers this year. 500,000 teachers work in villages (43%). 85% of teachers are female.

Russia has 51,543 education centers (including branches and departments with the rights of legal bodies). 33,007 education centers are in villages. 123 new schools are planned to be opened this year.

The school year will start in 2,500 Dagestani schools. 500,000 Dagestani children will return to their studies in schools, technical colleges and higher education centers. There are 30,000 first-graders in Dagestan. First-graders will have a ‘Lesson of Peace’.