Schoolwork debate initiated by Vyacheslav Volodin, suggesting the elimination of homework assignments
In a bid to address public concerns about excessive workload on students and the challenges posed by modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in education, the Russian government is implementing new measures.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, has announced plans to reduce the educational burden felt by many Russians. The proposed changes focus on regulating homework and optimizing lesson schedules in schools.
The Ministry of Education has developed recommendations for the 2025/26 academic year. These recommendations include flexible, optimized lesson schedules tailored for different grade levels, from primary to secondary education. The goal is to reduce the burden by providing structured, varied timetable models.
In terms of homework, the State Duma plans to ban the use of AI tools and ready-made answers from the internet. This move aims to preserve homework as a tool for knowledge consolidation and skill development, while promoting creativity, critical thinking, and student independence.
The new homework time limits will also be implemented from the new academic year. First-graders will have one hour to complete homework, while second and third-graders will have 1.5 hours. Fourth-graders will have two hours. These time limits have been approved by the State Duma speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin.
Volodin has expressed concern about new technologies like AI and internet usage leading to a waste of time for students completing homework. He cites the example of other countries where homework has a research and creative character, which he claims gives children skills.
These measures are a response to concerns about excessive workload on students. Volodin stated that many students spend 8-10 hours a day on schoolwork, a figure he finds alarming. The new homework time limits were not mentioned in previous discussions about excessive workload on students.
The Ministry of Education and Science has approved a maximum time limit for homework and has set different time limits based on grade level. The new homework time limits are a step towards addressing the issue of excessive workload on students, as suggested by Vyacheslav Volodin.
Education-and-self-development is a crucial aspect of the new measures implemented by the Russian government, as they aim to reduce the educational burden felt by students. These measures include regulating homework and implementing optimized lesson schedules, with a focus on flexibility and variation to promote learning.
The Ministry of Education is also cracking down on the use of AI tools and ready-made answers from the internet for homework, to preserve it as a tool for knowledge consolidation, skill development, creativity, critical thinking, and student independence.
