Kravtsov responds to proposal for 9 a.m. school starts

Schools set their own lesson start times, taking parents’ proposals and daylight into account, Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov told RBC on October 16 in response to a proposed 9 a.m. start.

Kravtsov said the school day should be convenient for everyone involved in education. Schedules must meet the sanitary requirements of Russia’s consumer protection authority and the Education Ministry’s rules for organising teaching.

According to the minister, lessons cannot begin before 8 a.m. Schools operating a second shift must finish no later than 7 p.m. Each school sets its specific timetable in a local regulatory act.

Vladislav Grib, deputy secretary of Russia’s Civic Chamber, proposed starting lessons at 9 a.m. during the colder part of the year. He cited the safety of children travelling to school in darkness.