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PM: budget spendings on education in RF one trln more than on defence

MOSCOW, December 26, 3:13 /ITAR-TASS/. Spendings of the budgets of all the levels (federal, regional and others) on education in Russia total three trillion roubles, one trillion more than on defence, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday at an annual prize awarding ceremony.

"Education development is a key direction of the state policy. Otherwise, we have no chances to modernize economy," he noted.

The laureates of the government prize in the area of education are people on whom the country's future depends, since professional pedagogues directly influence the future of Russia and the planet on the whole, the premier noted.

The government prizes are awarded to 135 researchers and pedagogues, or 20 scientific collectives. It is a state assessment of their activities, which are of great significance, Medvedev noted. He said awards were presented to scientists for effective developments, new methods, text-books, aids and skillful pedagogical work.

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