In Nizhny Novgorod, the system of specialized education for schoolchildren is being expanded.

      On May 22, 2026, at 15:11, Society At the meeting of the permanent commission of the city duma on social policy, deputies discussed issues of pre-professional training for schoolchildren, the work of the zoo center "Nadezhda," and the activities of the Center for School Sports Leagues and Sports Development. The meeting was chaired by the commission's chairman, Vladimir Tarasov.

      As reported by the deputy director of the education department, Oksana Kolpakova, since 2023, a Unified Model of Professional Orientation for students in grades 6-11 has been implemented in schools. By the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, 89.6% of schools in Nizhny Novgorod were implementing the model at the basic level, 7.2% at the advanced level, and 3.2% at the foundational level.

      According to her, in the current academic year, municipal schools have 314 specialized and pre-specialized classes of various orientations. A year earlier, there were 291. All schools with such classes interact with industrial enterprises and universities in the city.

      The director of the Center for School Sports Leagues and Sports Development, Maxim Vinogradov, informed the deputies about the center's work. The center was established in March 2025. During this time, its staff has conducted 10 major competitions involving more than 10,000 students from 138 schools in Nizhny Novgorod, as well as three city runs.

      Since the beginning of 2026, five competitions have been organized, reaching about 4,000 participants, and 25 teams have traveled to sports events. Additionally, within the framework of the "Champion's Map: School Sports Leagues" program, 826 teams have received support, involving about 7,600 athletes. This year, the goal is to increase this number to 1,161 teams.

      The director of the Nizhny Novgorod City Zoo Center "Nadezhda," Nikolai Bankov, reported that the institution operates in three areas: equestrian sports, cynology, and ecology. Currently, about 600 children are regularly engaged at the zoo center, including 72 children with disabilities.

      According to Bankov, the zoo center is a base for adaptive equestrian sports in the Nizhny Novgorod region, and its students represent the region at all-Russian competitions. The center's specialists also conduct free cynological classes for children in various districts of the city. Over the past year, more than 20 mass events have been organized with the participation of about 1,600 people.

      Summarizing the meeting, Vladimir Tarasov stated that the deputies discussed a wide range of issues related to children's development — "from rental points for infants to career guidance for older schoolchildren."

      "Creating conditions is the key to the harmonious development of the younger generation. And this includes not only a decent education but also the opportunity to engage in sports for free, learn horseback riding, and grasp the basics of a chosen profession," he noted.

      The chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod City Duma, Evgeny Chintsov, emphasized that the organization of children's leisure should be aimed not only at keeping children occupied but also at their upbringing.

      "Meaningful leisure should foster in children a love for their homeland, respect for others, and a careful attitude towards nature and historical heritage," said Evgeny Chintsov.

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