A recent report indicates that the cost of patriotic education in Russia during 2022 reached 11.4 billion rubles, exceeding the promised 5 billion. The assessment comes from a conclusion issued by the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children regarding the implementation of last year’s budget.
The report notes that spending on the federal project Patriot Education was about three times higher in 2022 than in 2021, a year that saw 3.4 billion rubles allocated to the initiative. This increase reflects a sustained push to deepen patriotic engagement across the country.
In 2022 funds from the Patriot Education project were allocated to several key areas. State symbol sets were purchased, and since the start of the current academic year, the state flag has been raised at every school on Mondays before classes. The program also funded updates to equipment in 14 historical multimedia parks named Russia – My History, alongside the organization of thematic events with patriotic themes.
Irina Abankina, a professor at the Higher School of Economics Institute of Education, commented on the scale of the investments required for large events. She highlighted the Big Change competition as an example, describing a program that involved extensive planning and participation, with funds covering organization, transportation, meals, and safety measures. Abankina noted a growing public interest in patriotic education as a notable trend at present.
Professor Elena Kryazheva-Kartseva from the Department of Russian History at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia emphasized that the military operation in Ukraine has underscored the role of morale in sustaining state stability. This has intensified the importance placed on developing patriotic education as a strategic objective.
There were earlier announcements about creating a unified standard for military patriotic games for youth under the program Zarnitsa, aimed at coordinating activities across the country. This aligns with ongoing efforts to structure youth engagement in national history and values.
Earlier remarks from educators in Kaliningrad suggested the need to cultivate discipline and loyalty among children, underscoring a broader conversation about patriotic education and its methods. The dialogue continues as officials and scholars assess the best approaches to fostering civic identity in the next generation.
Overall, the 2022 budget outcomes show a clear commitment to expanding patriotic education as a core component of national policy. The emphasis on school level practices, public history venues, and large scale youth programs suggests that the state views patriotic education as essential to social cohesion and long term stability. This trend appears poised to influence funding, programming, and curriculum development in the coming years, with ongoing debate about how best to balance educational aims with practical implementation.