Sergey Sobyanin has approved the key priorities for the development of Moscow's education system.

On February 25, 2025, the Presidium of the Moscow Government approved the priorities for the development of the capital's education for the current year. The Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, presented key directions that will help strengthen the city's position as one of the world leaders in school education.

Increased Funding and New Standards

In 2025, funding for general education will increase by 13%, with an additional 46 billion rubles allocated from the budget. The primary focus will be on grades 5-9, where the foundation for further learning is established. The funding standard for these grades will grow by nearly 20%, while for high school students, it will rise by 5.4%. For elementary school (grades 1-4), the standard will increase by 15.7%, reaching 171 thousand rubles per student per year.

Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education

Starting from the new academic year, additional courses in mathematics, science, and technology will be introduced in Moscow schools for students in grades 1-6. These classes will help develop logic, analytical thinking, and a creative approach to problem-solving. New citywide competitions will also be organized, including experimental ones, to identify talents among children.

“The key grades are, of course, fifth to ninth. I would say fifth, sixth, and seventh. At this stage, mathematics transitions from simple arithmetic to algebra, geometry comes into play, and typically, students either completely lose interest or, on the contrary, are eager to continue learning. The role of the teacher is crucial here; they can do a lot to help students further develop in mathematics and natural sciences,” stated Mikhail Sluch, the director of the "Vtoraya Shkola" Lyceum named after V.F. Ovchinnikov.

Interest in mathematics and natural sciences among students is growing every year. For instance, in 2025, a record 60% of eleventh graders—more than 32,000 students—plan to take advanced mathematics in the Unified State Exam (USE).

Informatics is also becoming increasingly popular. Over the past five years, the number of students wanting to take this subject has grown by 46%. This year, there will be 16,000 graduates. Additionally, for the first time in a long while, physics has returned to the list of popular subjects, chosen by more than 10,000 students.

All of this indicates that students are becoming more interested in the exact sciences, and the new courses will help them prepare better for exams and their future professions.

“These subjects, technologies—in the broad sense—biotechnology or information technology, are currently on the rise; they are in high demand not only here but also worldwide. Students are aware of this and understand that they have opportunities for normal professional development,” noted Sluch.

Construction of "Schools of the Future"

As part of the update of the educational infrastructure, the design of five modern "schools of the future" will begin in the Presnensky, Meshchansky, Basmanny, and Tagansky districts. These schools will be equipped with innovative laboratories, group work zones, media libraries, and comfortable spaces for relaxation.

Moreover, the "My School" program continues, under which four buildings have already been modernized, and by the start of the new academic year, about 50 more schools are planned to be updated. A total of around 700 school buildings are expected to be modernized by 2032.

More Budget Places in Colleges

Vocational education is becoming increasingly popular among Muscovites. In 2024, all 16,000 additional budget places in colleges were filled, and the number of ninth graders entering colleges has doubled. In 2025, the number of budget places will be increased to meet the growing demand.

Among the most sought-after fields are information technology, programming, graphic design, culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality. There is also growing interest in specialties in finance, trade, education, and social services.

Practice-Oriented Learning

Moscow colleges are actively collaborating with employers to ensure that training programs meet labor market demands. More than 70% of students' study time is spent on practical classes, and plans are in place to build seven innovative campuses for 60,000 students by 2031.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin emphasized that the measures taken will help maintain the capital's leadership in education and ensure the competitiveness of graduates in the labor market.

More details about the new initiatives can be found on the official website of the Moscow Mayor's Office.