How the education law will change

At the end of July 2012, the government generally approved the draft federal law "On Education in the Russian Federation", designed to replace two other laws - "On Education" and "On Higher Postgraduate Professional Education", which have been in force since 1992. The approved version of the new normative act takes into account the latest changes in legislation and introduces amendments proposed as a result of public discussion.

If the proposed document is finally adopted by the State Duma, the law on education will change significantly, regulating the process of its receipt at all levels - from pre-school to postgraduate. In particular, the law proposes for the first time at the state level to legislatively consolidate the features of providing education to those citizens of the country, foreigners and stateless persons who are distinguished by outstanding abilities. In addition, people who need additional social and legal support from the state will also have this opportunity. The possibility of obtaining inclusive and integrated education is also provided for persons with disabilities.

The draft law establishes a conceptual apparatus that establishes the most significant concepts, terms and definitions that appear in its text, clarifies the system of educational levels and corrects their names.

After the adoption of the law, preschool education will become a separate, independent level and will also be regulated by state educational standards. Not only bachelor's degree, specialty and magistracy will be equated to higher education, but also residency, assistant-internship, as well as training of scientific and pedagogical personnel. Doctoral studies will fall within the scope of the law "On Science and State Science and Technology Policy."

The law proposes to modernize the vocational education system. It will be included in secondary vocational education, which will include the training of skilled workers and mid-level specialists - current technicians. Such an education can be obtained not only in educational institutions, but also in production or in special training centers.

The new law guarantees non-governmental educational organizations the possibility of budget financing. It also provides for social support for students. It is supposed, in particular, to carry out indexation of scholarships depending on the officially established minimum wage level. For universities, the amount of scholarships is set not lower than half of the minimum wage, and graduate students, residents and trainee assistants will be able to receive a scholarship equal to the minimum wage. Students in the secondary education system will receive a scholarship in the amount of one third of this amount. For social scholarships, a coefficient of at least 1.5 of the usual scholarship is established.