From 1 September 2025, Russian schools will begin cutting the hours devoted to foreign languages

From 1 September 2025, Russian schools will begin cutting the hours devoted to foreign languages. In Years 5 to 7, the number of lessons will fall from three to two a week, while the total number of hours for the subject in Years 5 to 9 will drop from 510 to 408.

The change will affect English, French, Spanish and Chinese as early as 2025, while the reduction in German lessons will take effect later, from the 2026/27 school year.

The Ministry of Education explained that the changes are connected with the "optimisation of workload and the rational distribution of teaching time". In place of some of the foreign-language lessons, a new subject will appear on the timetable: "Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia". The course will be compulsory: 17 hours will be allotted to it in Year 5, and 34 hours each in Years 6 and 7.

The textbook for the new discipline is being prepared by Moscow State Pedagogical University with the participation of the Russian Orthodox Church.