The transition of Nizhny Novgorod schools to MAH from September 1st through the eyes of experts

      The Minister of Education of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Mikhail Puchkov, announced that in September of this year, Nizhny Novgorod schools will begin operating in "MAH". Currently, the process of integrating the new domestic messenger with the educational service "Sferum", which was implemented into the school educational process last year, is nearing completion. The regional Ministry of Education head emphasized that this innovation is driven by Federal Law No. 156-FZ dated June 24, 2025, "On the creation of a multifunctional information exchange service and amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation," and Government Decree No. 1880-r dated July 12, 2025, which approves the MAH platform as the national messenger.

      It is expected that the collaboration between MAX and "Sferum" will improve the convenience and efficiency of interactions among schools, students, and parents. The new version of the educational platform will include additional features such as a document collection service supporting digital signatures, among others. We asked experts to comment on the latest stage of digitalization in domestic education and to evaluate the standardization processes of communication tools in Russia.

      Yevgeny Semenov, Deputy Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Head of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of FORGO, political scientist, PhD in Political Science, Associate Professor:

      "The decades of euphoria around rentier economics, when it seemed that the richest subsoil resources would allow us to buy a quality of life comparable to that of the Emirates, are behind us. The sobering realization came late, but with it came an understanding that the autarkic Soviet model of the national economy, despite losing in competitive struggle, still offered an alternative that ensured state stability. Today, after a decade of sanctions pressure, asking whether to prefer domestic or foreign products is simply ridiculous. The principle of technological sovereignty is now the foundation of national policy, and strategically, this is correct. Our domestic communication platform MAX is needed to eliminate the so-called 'Zoom effect', which, driven by political motives, slammed shut the seemingly unbreakable market window before our eyes. As for certain shortcomings and the currently low legitimacy of the new messenger, we hope these are growing pains. Sometimes, ugly ducklings grow into beautiful Russian swans. Durov (not the one from Telegram, but the trainer) can confirm."

      Andrey Chugunov, journalist:

      "The transition of Nizhny Novgorod schools to the national messenger MAH is a noteworthy step. The goal, as usual, is ambitiously stated: to improve interaction and information exchange among all participants in the educational process—teachers, students, and parents. On one hand, the idea of a centralized platform for school communication seems logical and promising. Traditional channels—paper notices, parent meetings, electronic diaries—often cannot cope with the flow and speed of information required in a dynamic world. As a national product, MAH could potentially offer a unified solution that makes life easier for everyone. Ultimately, the final victory of MAH over other messengers will be when the notorious parent chats 'move' entirely to it."

      Nikita Kostopravkin, expert at the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for Social Projects:

      "If this service proves to be a good and reliable ecosystem, like Gosuslugi, then that’s excellent. However, as expected... it is necessary to immediately develop a quality product that does not lag, is accessible, and easy to use. If it attempts to replace one of the social networks banned in Russia, then to this day, there is no high-quality analog, and all alternatives cause significant disappointment. In short: the idea is great; the main thing is that the execution lives up to expectations, not just for show."

      Elena Mozgunova, historian, PhD in Political Science, Associate Professor at the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Management - branch of RANEPA:

      "The start of the special military operation (SMO), subsequent sanctions, and the exit of Western companies have exposed one of Russia’s problematic sovereignty issues. Over the past three years, building technological independence has become a priority in domestic policy. The launch of the MAH messenger by VK is seen as a step toward enhancing information security in the Russian digital environment and implementing the strategic course of import substitution. Yes, there are certain inconveniences associated with using the new digital product. However, without trial and error, it is impossible to develop a high-quality, effective product. Overall, the implementation of MAH is a natural continuation of the digital transformation of education, and using domestic platforms minimizes dependence on foreign resources."

      Andrey Samsonov, researcher at the Privolzhsky branch of FNIIS RC RAS, senior research fellow at the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Research Institute of Social Management Issues":

      "Digital tools are extremely convenient and have become an ordinary environment for performing a wide range of tasks. At the same time, it has become clear that they are also extremely simple, fast, and effective tools for causing various types of damage—from financial fraud to the spread of rumors, false information, etc. Consequently, the transition of all state and municipal infrastructure to service via government digital services and platforms was insufficient. There arose a need for a government messenger, which became MAH. Perhaps, in the near future, other Russian IT products will appear. There is a good example where competition is absent, and many components are produced by a single supplier—nuclear industry. Moreover, no one complains about quality or safety compliance. Essentially, by actively promoting state products and services in the digital sphere, the government must understand not only the urgent need for this but also the full responsibility involved."

      The material was prepared within the framework of a joint project of NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" and the Federal "Expert Club."

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