Mikhail Puchkov checked the progress of schools in the Volodarsky district and Dzerzhinsk in preparing for the new school year.

      Photo: Ministry of Education of Nizhny Novgorod Region

      Last week, the Minister of Education and Science of Nizhny Novgorod Region, Mikhail Puchkov, made an official visit to Volodarsky District and the urban district of Dzerzhinsk. He visited three general education schools and checked how they are preparing for the start of the new 2025/2026 school year. The main point of the visit was Secondary School No. 10 in Volodarsk, which is currently undergoing major repairs. The educational institution was opened half a century ago, in 1975. Since then, no updates had been made to the school.

      "In the framework of the state program 'Development of Education,' nearly 115 million rubles were allocated for the renovation of this school. Today, all engineering systems in the building have been replaced, floors, walls, and ceilings have been repaired, new windows and doors installed, new school furniture and equipment for recreational areas procured. The facade of the building has also been renovated. Video surveillance has been installed around the entire perimeter of the school," said Mikhail Puchkov.

      As noted by the minister, the renovation began in early 2024. Because the contractor was working ahead of schedule, children were able to start lessons in the renovated classrooms already on September 1 of the previous year. The sports and assembly halls, as well as school workshops, continued to be updated throughout the school year alongside the educational process. The fully renovated school will welcome students on September 1, 2025.

      "The contractor made every effort to ensure that the major repairs were completed on time. Now, the only remaining work is to finish landscaping the territory, including installing outdoor lighting at the entrance and around the school building," explained Mikhail Puchkov.

      In Volodarsky District, the minister also visited Gymnasium No. 1 in Mulino settlement. Here, part of the roof—the glass dome—was replaced in 2024, with about 7.8 million rubles allocated from regional and municipal budgets. Before the new school year, the school is undergoing minor cosmetic repairs. New textbooks have been purchased for students.

      In Dzerzhinsk, Mikhail Puchkov inspected Secondary School No. 2 with an in-depth curriculum in physics and mathematics 'City of Sciences,' which was commissioned in 2023. The school is designed for over a thousand students—with a 25-meter pool, two sports halls, a choreography hall, and a climbing wall of its own. Nearby, there is a sports complex with a running track.

      "In the new premises, we have already been working for two years and can assess the quality of the school's construction. We have many students, and we expect a slight increase this year, but we are confident that with proper care, the building will serve our students and teachers for many, many years," shared the school's director, Elena Lushina.

      The ministry reminded that creating opportunities for children to receive quality education in comfortable conditions remains one of the priority tasks of the national project 'Youth and Children.' The new national project is being implemented under the directive of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, starting from 2025. It addresses tasks previously outlined in the 'Education' and 'Science and Universities' national projects and includes nine federal projects and programs: 'Russia – a Land of Opportunities,' 'We Are Together,' 'Russia in the World,' 'The Best for Children,' 'Leading Schools,' 'Teachers and Mentors,' 'Creating a Network of Modern Campuses,' 'Universities for the Generation of Leaders,' and 'Professionalism.'