First-graders in Nizhny Novgorod will enter schools using wristbands.

      01 December 2025 11:12 Society

      A pilot project will start in Nizhny Novgorod under which first-grade students will be offered electronic bracelets to enter schools. The initiative is being implemented by the city administration together with one of the banks and is the first of its kind in Russia. Mayor Yuri Shalabaev reported this on his Telegram channel.

      The new device combines the functions of a bank card and a school pass. First-graders will receive the bracelets free of charge.

      The city administration supported this project because it meets the modern requirements of the digital environment and helps to improve safety in schools. In addition, this format is especially convenient for younger students, the mayor said.

      The bracelet will become an additional way to enter the school: the city's educational institutions already operate a unified access control system that supports various types of cards and identifiers. Parents will be able to choose the most suitable option for their child themselves. At the same time, the bracelet, in the mayor's opinion, is particularly convenient for younger pupils — it is constantly worn on the wrist and is less likely to be lost. Besides entering the school, the device can be used to pay for school meals.

      "This is a good opportunity to instill in children money-handling skills and the basics of financial literacy from first grade, of course under parental supervision," the mayor added.

      He also emphasized that participation in the project is voluntary. If a family decides to refuse the use of the bracelet, no one will force it on the child.

      Applications to participate in the project will open by the end of 2025. Details will be communicated to parents through the schools.

      Recall that in 2021 a Unified System for Access Control and Meal Payment (ESKUDiOP) was implemented in Nizhny Novgorod. This project addresses several important tasks at once — from ensuring student safety to monitoring meals in school canteens. To date, 152 educational institutions in the city are registered in the system, of which 94 already use the full access control system.

      Earlier it was reported that age verification via MAX is being tested in Nizhny Novgorod stores.

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