More than 75 graduates of correctional schools in the Nizhny Novgorod region received vocational education in 2026.

      More than 75 graduates of Nizhny Novgorod correctional schools received vocational education based on their educational organizations by the end of the 2025/2026 academic year. These are students from 15 specialized institutions that have licenses to provide vocational education for children with disabilities and health issues. This practice has existed in the region since 2024. "In recent years, we have observed significant growth across all key indicators. The number of study groups has increased from 10 to 24, and the number of children with health limitations receiving vocational education has risen from 55 to 192. After completing their studies, graduates of correctional schools have two main paths: they can either find employment immediately or continue their educational trajectory," said the Minister of Education of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Mikhail Puchkov. He noted that this work with students is carried out as part of a federal interdepartmental pilot project. The goal of the project is to build an educational route for children and youth with disabilities and limited health capabilities in such a way that they can receive higher education and find employment. Today, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, children with disabilities and limited health capabilities can receive vocational training in 16 in-demand professions. Children can master the professions of seamstress, embroiderer, garment maker, wood burner, tile layer, shoe assembler, landscaping specialist, cook, vegetable grower, building maintenance and repair specialist, and others. Educators from correctional schools help children determine their future profession. Career guidance work is structured with methodological support from the Nizhny Novgorod Institute for Education Development (NIRO). "The process of building a seamless educational route is a whole complex of activities: medical, psychological, psychophysiological, and socio-pedagogical. In this work, personal inclinations and interests of the child are necessarily taken into account, as well as the real opportunities and needs of the labor market," explained the rector of NIRO, Elena Okunkova. The regional Ministry of Education reported that as part of the work on the interdepartmental federal project, a universal "box solution" was prepared for the implementation of vocational training programs in correctional schools. The mechanism provides for the simplification of the licensing procedure for educational organizations, which will allow an increasing number of schools to issue state-standard vocational education documents to graduates. In addition, this solution will enable the scaling of accumulated experience to other organizations of a similar profile that implement adapted programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The ministry also plans to share its developments with other regions of the country. It should be noted that ensuring access to education for all children, including those with health limitations and disabilities, is a top priority of the national project "Youth and Children." Today, there are over 16,500 minors with limited health capabilities and disabilities in the Nizhny Novgorod region. They receive education in 44 correctional schools, as well as in more than 570 general education schools in the region, where appropriate conditions have been created. The national project "Youth and Children" has been implemented by the order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, since 2025. It includes nine federal projects and programs: "Russia - a Land of Opportunities," "We Are Together," "Russia in the World," "All the Best for Children," "Leading Schools," "Teachers and Mentors," "Creating a Network of Modern Campuses," "Universities for the Generation of Leaders," and "Professionalism."