They propose making school meals free throughout the entire period of education.

      July 17, 2025, 15:18

      [135]

      Society

      The Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, has proposed to abolish fees for visiting kindergartens in rural areas and to provide all schoolchildren with free hot meals throughout their entire period of education. Professor of Human Resource Management and Psychology at the Financial University under the Government of Russia, Alexander Safonov, supported this idea. In an interview with the "360" television channel, he emphasized that rural areas have higher birthrates, but the income levels of the population are lower than in cities. Introducing free meals in schools and kindergartens will reduce the financial burden on families, especially in rural areas where the number of preschool institutions is smaller. Safonov also noted that children are under state care until the age of 20-22, until they complete their education. Therefore, it is important to ensure free meals in schools and kindergartens for all children, regardless of their families' financial situation or place of residence. Additionally, the professor proposed extending the system of free education to colleges and universities. In his opinion, if a family has a second child, it should be guaranteed free education for that child. And large families with three or more children should have the opportunity to provide free education for all their children in secondary and higher vocational education institutions. This will significantly reduce family expenses on education and make it more accessible. Alexander Safonov also expressed the opinion that transitioning from the maternal capital program to housing certificates is necessary. He believes this is a more effective way to support families and stimulate birthrates. However, he emphasized that achieving significant results will take time and require comprehensive measures, as current budget constraints do not allow for rapid changes. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reproducing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials for 18+ users.