From the next academic year, the subject “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” will no longer be taught in Russian schools, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation foresees with its order of February 19, 2024.
The subject area and the subject “Fundamentals of spiritual and moral culture of the peoples of Russia” are excluded from the federal state standard for basic general education.
Thus, Orthodoxy will not be a separate subject for students from grades 5 to 9. Instead, some topics will be included in the subject “History of our region” or local knowledge. It is planned to develop “uniform history textbooks to be used in all educational organizations implementing educational programs for basic general education,” says the explanatory note to the document.
“Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” was compulsory in Russian schools from the 5th to the 9th grade, and in the last grade there was also an exam on the subject. The main requirement for the subject was to have a “cultural character” and “to educate patriotic values”. In addition to Orthodoxy, students could also study Islam, Buddhist, Jewish culture or secular ethics. The subject was introduced experimentally in 2010 in some regions, and since 2012 it has become compulsory for all Russian schools. The largest number of students (or their parents) chose the subject “Secular Ethics”, traditionally over 40%, and about 30% of students chose Orthodoxy.
The Moscow Patriarchate has decided to create a commission to examine the unilateral decision of the Ministry of Education “to harmonize the positions”.
