MOSCOW, October 11 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian system of education will lay the emphasis on the mathematical science, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev declared at a meeting of the Russian government on Thursday.
Children should be provided with education of high quality and have equal access to secondary, pre-school and, possibly, additional education, Medvedev stressed. By the year 2020 all the school students of senior forms should be educated according to new educational standards, Medvedev said. The accent will be put on the development of the mathematical education as a basis for the development of high-tech economics, the PM said. This subject, unlike other scientific directions, is well developed in Russia and should be upheld, Medvedev declared.
A nationwide system of support to gifted children is being created now, Medvedev said. By 2020 half of school students should take part in competitions of all levels, and around two-third of school students should study in the system of additional education, the prime minister said. He urged to ensure competitiveness of Russian universities and their integration into an international system of education.
The prime minister drew the Cabinet's attention to the fact that all these improvements should be made in the framework of a qualitative change of the education system. Medvedev urged the Cabinet to pay attention to university buildings, dormitories and campuses for students which should modern and intended for education of all students, including disabled students. By the year 2020 we are planning to create more than 800,000 new beds in student dormitories, the prime minister said.