Talking of What Matters open lesson

The President visited one of the four schools built
in 2019 under the Modern School federal project. This school offers instruction
in both Russian and Tuvan languages and hosts various clubs and activities on Saturdays.
* * *
Excerpts from transcript of the open lesson
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I had the pleasure of visiting
your new school, and I want to begin by congratulating you on this exciting
milestone.
The school is impressive – modern and fully
compliant with Russia’s high and ever-evolving standards. For Kyzyl, this is a significant educational institution. So, congratulations on your new school! I am confident that you will enjoy your time here, make new friends, and most importantly,
gain knowledge at the highest level, as the teaching staff meets today’s
expectations.
I want to extend my congratulations to all the students, teachers, and parents across Russia as we begin the new academic
year. This is always a significant event, not just for the students, but also for their entire families, especially parents and grandparents, and for everyone
who dedicates their lives to education.
Teaching is a truly unique vocation. What does
it mean to teach and to educate? It means dedicating a significant part of your
life to others. It is not just a profession; it is, in many ways, a calling,
something that defines the lives of most teachers and educators.
We owe a deep sense of gratitude to our
teachers for all they do. They remain in our hearts, and we carry this
appreciation with us throughout our lives, remembering them fondly from our
school days and later in secondary and higher education facilities.
You attend a special school dedicated to the Heroes
of the Fatherland. In this context, I want to highlight that Tuva is a unique
region within Russia. Its distinctiveness stems from the fact that when Tuva
was still an independent and self-sufficient state, it was the first country in the world to ally with the Soviet Union in the fight against Nazism, even
before other nations joined. Just a few hours later, other countries, including
Great Britain, announced their support for the Soviet Union in the fight
against Nazi Germany.
It is important to recognise that the traditions established by our predecessors, our ancestors, grandfathers and grandmothers, are still very much alive and growing stronger today. For instance, around 10,000 residents of the Republic of Tuva are actively
participating in the special military operation. By risking their lives and health, they are protecting each of you and the entire country. This is a shining example of patriotism and a continuation of our centuries-old
traditions of deep devotion to our Fatherland.
Today, we must offer special words to the first-graders as they begin the school year, as this marks a significant
turning point in their lives. Up until now, the world has revolved around them,
but now they are stepping into a new phase where they have their own
responsibilities. This is their first step into adulthood, where duties and obligations start to take shape. These initial steps are incredibly important.
I sincerely hope that the older students
recognise this and offer their support to the younger ones. This support is crucial,
as it forms the foundation for the rest of their lives. The kindness you show
them today will leave a lasting impression, instilling a sense of gratitude
that they will carry throughout their lives. In turn, they will learn to extend
the same support to others when it is needed most. This is an essential aspect
that strengthens our society as a whole.
Of course, our thoughts are with your peers in the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, who, due to well-known circumstances, have to study
online or in different groups. Rest assured, the country and our Armed Forces
will do everything possible to restore normal life in these regions, ensuring a return to normalcy for these children. I have no doubt that this will happen.
That is all I wanted to say to start with. I am
sure you have questions, comments, and perhaps some suggestions. Let us discuss
them. I would like our conversation to be more of a dialogue between engaged
participants rather than just a Q&A session.
So, let us get started. Please, go ahead.
<…>
Vladimir Putin
(commenting on the remarks by Danna
Dulush, a student from Lyceum No. 15, regarding the development of tourism in the republic): Today, after this meeting, there will be another fairly
large meeting to discuss the development of Tuva. The reason I came to visit you
is not only because of the beginning of a school year, but also because this
year marks the 80th anniversary of Tuva becoming part of Russia.
We will also need to review the performance with the leadership of the republic and our colleagues from the federal
Government and outline our plans.
Without a doubt, tourism is one of Tuva’s main attractions, if I may put it that way, because it can do much to promote economic growth. To put it plainly, without looking for words, Tuva is
spectacular for its beauty.
As you are probably aware, I have
visited here many times. This place is unique in terms of the culture of the Tuvan people, the breathtaking landscapes, the mountains, and the rivers… You
know, speaking of beautiful nature, few places around the world can match Tuva,
so tourism is definitely a promising area of focus.
Of course, just as in other parts of the country, and perhaps especially in Tuva, it is important to focus on what
you just mentioned – tourist accommodations. Our hospitality programme to promote domestic tourism is extensive. Domestic tourism is expanding at an incredibly
fast rate. The number of tourists who are now vacationing in Russia, including,
I am sure, in Tuva, is multiples of what it used to be.
So, today we will discuss this and mark
out a part of the national programme that will be dedicated to Tuva.
<…>
Vladimir Putin
(answering a question from Battaa
Sanchat, a pupil from Gymnasium No. 9, whose dream is to make Tuva’s largest
children’s camp, Bailak, a year-round facility, so that children from all over
Russia can come and learn about the traditions and culture of Tuva): Places
where young people – schoolchildren and university students alike – can spend
vacations or undergo certain training abound, and their number keeps growing
which is good. We will continue down that path going forward.
So, I promise that today when I discuss
the development plan for Tuva with my colleagues, we will pay attention to this
issue as well. I will issue instructions to the federal Government and the Executive
Office to make sure that your proposal is included in the programmes for developing
this type of activity.
<…>
Bogdan Remarchuk: My name is Bogdan Remarchuk. I am ten years old. I live in the city of Kyzyl. I practice swimming, soccer, and boxing. My question is: how many hours of sleep and rest do you get to stay in such a good shape?
Vladimir Putin:
I will not lie and tell you as it is, but it is not a good example, so do not
follow my lead in this regard: I slept four hours last night. That is not enough.
I usually sleep six hours. You should sleep well, at least eight hours. You are
very active and do many sports, so you need to be in good shape. I need to be
in good shape, too. The fact that I slept four hours today and usually sleep
only six is not because I am such a busy person, but because I cannot properly
organise my workday.
Everyone should be critical of what
they do and of themselves and learn their lessons. I will try to do that, and I suggest you do the same, okay?
Bogdan Remarchuk: Yes.
Vladimir Putin:
Agreed. All the best.
It is also a four-hour time
difference with Moscow, so there is a jet lag. I will work to improve myself.
We will do it together, ok?
Bogdan Remarchuk: Yes.
Vladimir Putin:
How many hours do you sleep?
Bogdan Remarchuk: Eight.
Vladimir Putin:
Good job. Keep it up.
<…>
Vladimir Putin
(responding to a proposal by Artyom
Babushkin, a pupil from School No. 1 in Kyzyl, to organise a tour dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Great Victory to key battle grounds such as the Battle of Moscow, Leningrad, Rzhev, Sevastopol, Stalingrad, and the Kursk
Bulge): That is a great idea, just like the idea of establishing permanent
children’s and youth camps.
This reminds me of the words Vladimir
Vysotsky used to say in such cases: obviously, you read the right books as a child. This is an excellent proposal.
Such programmes are available now.
We carry out such programmes jointly with Belarus and in our country. But, of course, since you mentioned this, this work should be continued.
You just mentioned your grandfather.
You know, there is nothing more important or effective in raising a person,
especially a young person, than the example of one’s own family.
You mentioned your grandfather. He
was a submariner and served in the Interior Ministry. It looks like he shared a lot of stories with you, which stayed with you and have become part of your consciousness,
your mentality. Without a doubt, we should know both our family history and our
country’s history. We should be proud of our history, which we are, and we must
constantly reinforce in our own minds the importance of what our people have
achieved over a thousand years of history. This is crucial for the future.
This is particularly true of the people who are no longer with us, who defended sovereignty and independence
during the Great Patriotic War, who are fighting neo-Nazism today, and opposing
those who are staging coups in other countries and trying to suppress the people
of a culture that is close to ours, and Russian speakers. This is vital for all
of us, not the ones who are no longer with us, but for us living today and for the future generations.
All these events you mentioned
definitely need to be promoted further which we will certainly do. I will make
sure that you and your peers here in Tuva definitely take part in such events.
I will also mention this to my colleagues from the Presidential Executive
Office. I hope you and many of those present in this audience will be included
in these programmes.

<…>
Artyom Vorobyov: My name is Artyom Vorobyov. I am a student at School No. 7. I am also a member of the Youth Army and a commander of a platoon at my school. I have participated in two Zarnitsa 2.0 competitions and the regional stage of a first aid competition.
I plan to finish nine grades – I am currently in the ninth grade – and enter the Novosibirsk Cadet School and then enter the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School and eventually join the Special Operations Forces.
I have a question for you, or rather, a suggestion. Our republic does not have proper facilities for training people who want to pursue a military career.
Vladimir Putin: Why? A cadet school opened.
Artyom Vorobyov: The cadet school, yes, but you have to get accepted there first.
Vladimir Putin: You need to put a little effort into it yourself.
Artyom Vorobyov: Well, yes.
It would be great to be able to take a one- or two-week, or one-month preparatory course for military service, either for a fee or free of charge, if provided by the state.
Vladimir Putin: I understand.
First, it is very commendable that you are thinking about this. It means that the influence of your family, the people around you, and the environment in the country and the republic is such that it encourages a young person like you to think about your future, particularly a military future, especially since you mentioned the Special Operations Forces. These are actually elite units. As someone who is very well aware of how our Special Operations Forces carry out their combat missions, I can tell you that whole books could be written about them, really. And I hope they will be written.
Here is what we should do. Starting this year, schools will be teaching the subject “Fundamentals of Security and Defence of the Motherland,” where many things, I hope, will be addressed in a consistent manner. However, if you feel that this is not enough, we have the Youth Army, and cadet schools are opening across the country.
As for secondary and higher educational institutions, the Defence Ministry and other security agencies determine the number of such institutions based on their needs to avoid overproduction of specialists and prevent shortages. However, you mentioned preparation for the military future. It seems that something is still not fully working here, something is missing.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will definitely discuss this with my colleagues.
I want to congratulate you on your choice. It is an exciting field. In addition to inner motivation, courage, heroism, and readiness for self-sacrifice to defend the Motherland, modern Special Operations Forces are also about advanced technology. They use the most sophisticated means for conducting combat operations. So, of course, good preparation is mandatory. You need good intellectual and physical training, just the kind you have.
All the best.
Thank you for the idea.
To be continued.