Russia's Ministry of Education has declared that participants in the war in Ukraine possess a "unique pedagogical potential," according to a statement reported by RIA Novosti. The ministry said veterans' knowledge, experience, and personal qualities are in demand for patriotic education of children and youth, fostering a culture of safety, and readiness to defend the Fatherland.
The conclusions stem from research conducted by the State University of Education, which carried out the corresponding scientific work, RIA Novosti reported. Based on the findings, the ministry has already developed professional development programs for veterans who have undergone retraining.
Since 2023, the university has been retraining war participants to teach the subject "Fundamentals of Safety and Defense of the Motherland" and to lead military-patriotic clubs, according to SOTA. The subject replaced "Life Safety Fundamentals" in schools in 2024; the course includes initial military training, whose share in the curriculum is set to increase from 20% to 50% starting September 1.
The ministry also said veterans can teach schoolchildren "Life Safety" and "Initial Military Training." To do so, they must pass professional selection, specialized training, retraining, and mentoring, as well as receive methodological and psychological support.