Mandatory course titled "Spiritual and Ethical Traditions of Russia" to be implemented in schools
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, Russian schools will introduce a new mandatory subject titled **"Fundamentals of Russia's Moral and Spiritual Culture"**. This subject aims to provide students with a foundation in the moral and spiritual values deemed essential to Russian identity and culture.
The development of the teaching materials for this subject is notably overseen by the Russian Orthodox Church, with the textbook drafting entrusted to the Metropolitan of Crimea, who is recognised as a spiritual advisor to President Putin. This highlights a significant involvement of the Russian Orthodox Church in the educational content, reflecting an emphasis on Orthodox Christian values as integral to Russian spiritual and moral life.
The subject is intended to cover Russia’s moral traditions and spiritual heritage, aiming to foster a sense of community, responsibility, and connection to Russian history and culture. It integrates religious and cultural education not as mere knowledge acquisition, but as a formative influence on young Russians' identities and their roles in society.
The subject will be taught to students in grades 5-7, with grade 5 students receiving 17 hours of instruction, while grades 6 and 7 will have 34 hours each. The course will be taught by history teachers.
In January 2023, Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov announced the return of this subject to the school curriculum, starting from September 1, 2026. However, earlier in 2024, the Ministry of Education proposed to remove "Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia" as a separate subject from the program of grades 5-7 and integrate it into the school course "History of Our Region". This proposal was met with criticism from the Russian Orthodox Church, represented by Patriarch Kirill, and the Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea Tikhon (Shevkunov). As a result, the subject "Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia" will still be taught as a separate subject starting in 2026.
The manuscript of textbooks for studying the subject is planned to be prepared by November of this year. The course will be one of the main worldview courses, and descriptions of the lives, feats, and activities of heroes will be included in the course.
This initiative reflects a strengthening of the Orthodox Church's role in shaping education and national identity in Russia.
Life in Russia will be deeply rooted in Orthodox Christian values and moral traditions, as the subject "Fundamentals of Russia's Moral and Spiritual Culture" becomes a mandatory part of the education-and-self-development curriculum for students in grades 5-7, starting from the 2026/2027 academic year. This change, overseen by the Russian Orthodox Church, demonstrates an increased emphasis on politics and general-news, as the Church asserts its influence on shaping the national identity and worldview of young Russians.
