In the modern world, changes are happening incredibly fast. And, probably, one of the most relevant skills today is the ability to quickly analyze information, make decisions on time and deftly adjust to the current moment. We remember that some 15-20 years ago we still had time to maneuver in the matter of choosing a profession. But now it is a luxury. And it’s not so easy to decide what business you want to do for the rest of your life in such conditions, especially if you just recently turned 10 or 15 years old.
An interesting solution to this truly complex issue was found in Moscow. For several years now, a new education reform has been gradually implemented: today we will tell you about the most impressive innovations.
The basis of the Moscow education system is that every child should have the opportunity to learn, from the age of 3. At this age, most parents think introducing their children towards sports, creativity, language courses, chess, robotics and even elementary programming. As a result, by the age of 5-6, children are already beginning to gradually determine what is more or less interesting for them.
At the same age, at the age of 5-6 years old, children are enrolled in pre-school preparatory groups for school in specialized multidisciplinary centers. Classes are held, as a rule, in the same school buildings where children have to study further, which significantly reduces stress. Today, Moscow boasts 600 multidisciplinary centers, 530 of which have similar pre-school groups successfully operating.
It can be said that from this point on, the education of children develops simultaneously in several directions. First, it is a direct school education, which provides students with a confident basic knowledge. Secondly, the additional extracurricular activities designed to help the child determine his interests and find precisely those areas in which he can maximize his potential. And finally, the third educational direction is education available to a child and his family outside of any institutions. We are talking now about a unique educational ecosystem that includes classes in city museums, lecture halls, exhibition centers, as well as excursions.
As a result, by 8th and 9th grades, most children are already ready to decide on a profession, and are given the opportunity to enter preprofessional classes. These classes are another innovation of the Moscow Department of Education. Preprofessional classes are parallels of a specialized focus, among which are engineering, medical, natural science and scientific-technical, as well as cadet. All specialized classes are equipped with everything necessary for the successful development of the profession – full-fledged laboratories, computers, demonstration materials. This project was created to ensure that even before entering the specialized classes of high school, children could try themselves in a particular profession and assess their capabilities.
After preprofessional classes, students are ready to enroll in specialized 10 and 11 grades, or immediately go to colleges and begin to receive their first professional education in 64 different areas. At the same time, before entering universities, students of schools and colleges can pass the so-called pre-professional exam, and thus gain additional points, which are added to the points for the Unified State Exam and are taken into account when entering universities. In addition to the pre-professional exam, pupils of the senior classes or specialized colleges regularly participate in the Young Professionals Championships. In the last 2018, Moscow students received two gold and silver and one bronze medal at the EuroSkills championship in Budapest. And in the previous 2017 championship in Abu Dhabi, students of Moscow colleges earned two gold and silver awards.
Such a multidirectional education system was conceived based on the principle “Every child is talented.” And first of all, its goal is to help children to attain timely vocational guidance.
International Moscow Forum “City of Education” is one of the most significant events in the world of metropolitan education. The main objective of the forum is the exchange of experience in the development of various stages of the educational process. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the latest educational technologies, resources and equipment. Next forum “City of Education”, which will be held in Moscow from August 29 to September 1, 2019.
