A new mandatory course, “Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia,” will be introduced for students in grades 5-7 starting in 2026. The program, designed to instill spiritual and moral values, will be integrated into the curriculum with specific hours allocated for each grade level.

The Moscow Pedagogical State University (MPGU) is currently developing the textbooks for this new subject. According to Rector Alexei Lubkov, the course is structured for grades 5, 6, and 7, and will be taught by history teachers. The curriculum allocates 17 hours for the 5th grade, and 34 hours each for the 6th and 7th grades.

The content of the course will focus on the spiritual and moral values of Russian civilization, highlighting these values through the activities, biographies, and accomplishments of prominent figures.

These changes will necessitate revisions to the structure of the main school curriculum.

Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Sergei Kravtsov, stated that the subject aims to impart traditional, universal human values shared across all religions, using the lives of great individuals as examples. He also emphasized the promising future for the country through collaboration between education and the church.

Initially, there were plans to integrate the foundations of Spiritual and Moral Culture into the “History of our Region” course, with changes expected to take effect on September 1, 2025. However, this idea faced criticism from the Russian Orthodox Church. Following discussions, the decision was made to reinstate the subject as a standalone course.