Beginning September 1, Russia will substantially expand military instruction in secondary schools, with military training set to account for half of the mandatory subject known as “Fundamentals of the Safety and Defense of the Fatherland.” The change was announced by Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov and marks a sharp increase from the previous curriculum, where military topics made up roughly one-fifth of the course.
The subject consists of 34 classroom hours each academic year, with at least 17 hours now dedicated to basic military training. Students will receive instruction in operating unmanned aerial vehicles, undergo practical field exercises, and develop skills intended to prepare them for national defense duties. Alongside lessons in military history and civic education, the revised curriculum will include combat-related training, while older students will also study first aid and learn to handle firearms and hand grenades.
Russian officials say the expanded program is designed to better equip young people with knowledge and practical abilities linked to defense responsibilities. “Half of the lessons in the subject will be devoted to military training,” Kravtsov said while outlining the new educational approach.
