Training course: how Russia celebrated September 1st

A sea of flowers, white bows and colored ties, choral singing and flash mobs — this is how Knowledge Day was held in Russia. On September 1, 18 million students went to school, said Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education. The holiday scenario was affected by the rainy weather, from which we had to hide indoors, and in some cases by restrictions related to security measures. So, in Moscow, by order of the Moscow Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only the first and 11th grades had lines on the street. And in the Stavropol Territory, it's only for first-graders. But the unchanging attributes of the holiday — smiles, tears of joy and the first bell — were unchanged. About how the Day of Knowledge was held in the regions where new schools were opened and what they look like — in the material of Izvestia.

How Knowledge Day was celebrated in Russia

On the morning of September 1, flower shops were crowded with parents of schoolchildren: those who had not taken care of it earlier tried to use the last opportunity to supply their child with a bouquet. There were even significant queues at the Riga market in Moscow and elsewhere. Fortunately, the sellers tried to work quickly so that everyone could get on the lines, and the choice of colors was large.

The local authorities took a responsible approach to preparing for this day. For example, in St. Petersburg, on the eve of September 1, the streets of the city were even washed with "shampoo" - almost 5.5 thousand liters were consumed in total, the Smolny press service reported.

In the new academic year, more than 18 million students went to school, the head of the Ministry of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, said yesterday.

The ceremonial lineups took place even despite the bad weather. Somewhere, such as in the Kemerovo region, they decided to hold the holiday on the street, but in a format shortened due to the rain. But in the Krasnoyarsk Territory it was moved to sports and assembly halls. The rooms were filled with elegant schoolchildren with blue, green, red, yellow or orange ties around their necks or with lush bows in their hair.

The atmosphere of September 1 in every school in Russia was solemn and touching at the same time. Everywhere, the holiday traditionally began with the performance of the Russian national anthem, as well as the raising of the national flag. Then there were parting words from parents and teachers.

The further program depended on the imagination of the organizers. Somewhere, the celebration was decorated with dance and song performances by students and teachers, including school choirs, and balloons were launched into the sky.

A flash mob with songs and dances was organized at school No. 26 in Blagoveshchensk, Amur region. At first, the teachers started dancing to incessant applause, then the students joined them. Many parents of first-graders also couldn't stand still. In addition, the guests were entertained by animators dressed in costumes of bears, labuba and Cheburashka. The children happily congratulated the teachers, handing them bouquets, and also greeted classmates.

According to tradition, all attention at the ceremonial lines was focused on the first—graders, because for them the Day of Knowledge is a particularly exciting event. Some of the newly minted schoolchildren were smiling happily, some were calmly listening to the teachers, and some of the children were barely holding back tears as they looked for their parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters in the crowd.

The lines traditionally ended with the first school bell performed by a first-grader, who was carried on the shoulder of a high school student.

— Actually, it's a very exciting day, because I imagine myself going to first grade on September 1st again, for the second time. The first ruler, the first teacher, the first principal," Pavel Solovyov, a resident of Moscow, told Izvestia.

But it wasn't just the weather that limited the event's scenarios. For example, in Moscow, by decision of the police Department, the celebration was held only for first-graders and future graduates.

In the Stavropol Territory, schools were allowed only by lists and passes. The festive lineup was held only for first grade students. And the older students immediately went to lessons: without solemn speeches, balloons and music.

Security measures have also been strengthened in the Kurgan, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as in the Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs.

Who congratulated the students

Vladimir Putin congratulated schoolchildren, college students, university students, teachers and parents of students on Knowledge Day. The video message of the head of state is published on the Kremlin's website.

—The biography of each of us is connected with this holiday, because we all started our journey to adulthood at school and we well remember the feelings of joy and excitement that we experienced on September 1," he said.

He also addressed the first—graders, for whom a "new and responsible time" begins - the time of formation, development, disclosure of abilities and talents.

— You have a lot to learn. Someone will love humanities subjects, someone will be closer to the exact, natural sciences. But I am sure that the rich history and culture of our Fatherland will be interesting and useful to all of you. And of course, we will need to master and put at our service the technologies of the digital world, artificial intelligence, while preserving our human individuality, the ability to think freely and independently," the head of state stressed.

Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Education, also congratulated schoolchildren and teachers on the start of the school year.

"I cordially congratulate you on September 1, a holiday that unites our entire vast country with special warmth," he stressed. — Dear schoolchildren and students! Here is a new world, a world of knowledge, discoveries and opportunities. Your task is to be brave and inquisitive researchers of it. Look for your own answers, engage in science, sports, creativity, participate in Olympiads and competitions. A serious attitude to study and passion are the keys that will open any door.

Students of higher educational institutions were also congratulated on September 1. Almost 200 undergraduates and postgraduates took part in the ceremonial lineup of the Moscow State University branch in Sarov, the press service of the National Center for Physics and Mathematics (created with the participation of Rosatom Corporation) told Izvestia. This year, more than 80 university graduates from 27 regions of Russia have enrolled in the Master's program for the first time.

— You will be mentored by the best teachers in the country, whose names are known far beyond the borders of Russia. Learn from them, absorb their knowledge and experience. This is the only way you can create something important for millions of people," Alexey Likhachev, head of Rosatom, said in a video message.

On Knowledge Day, Russia's Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar visited the World of Intelligence Jewish private school in Moscow. 150 children are currently studying there, and there have already been six graduates during the institution's existence.

— Today is a big anniversary, and especially for me: exactly 35 years ago, I came to Moscow for the first time with my wife and little daughter. At that time, we did not know what kind of education our children would receive, or whether they would even be allowed to open a Jewish school here. In the Soviet Union, they could have been sent to prison for teaching children Jewish subjects," he said during the solemn assembly.

As the first bell, the Chief rabbi of Russia used the shofar, a Jewish wind ritual musical instrument made from an animal's horn.

What did the students and parents say?

On September 1, 2025, 670 schools reopened in a number of Russian regions after major repairs. So, secondary school No. 25 reopened its doors in Chita: on the morning of September 1, dozens of students lined up at the school porch with balloons, flags, lush bouquets of asters and gladioli.

And in the village of Shirinye, Yaroslavl region, only one student went to the first grade — a total of 25 people study at the local small school.

— Sets of classes are being created in elementary schools - the first and third, as well as the second and fourth grades study together due to the fact that there are quite a few children. Teachers need to give out two programs in one lesson, for example, for the second and fourth grades. But our teachers are experienced, they can handle everything," said Irina Savelieva, director of the Shirinsky school.

Vadim, the only first-grader at school this year, was the center of attention. His first teacher Lyudmila Nemykina said that the boy is open and positive, knows letters well, can read a little and loves mathematics.

— I taught his mother and uncle in elementary school. And his grandfather and I come from the same village. Previously, there were 10-15 first—graders in the village, but now the population is getting smaller," the teacher noted.

Izvestia talked with parents of pupils of school No. 75 in Irkutsk. According to Anastasia, the mother of the first-grader, her family is very happy that their son will receive knowledge in the new building.

- The child was waiting for this event. We are glad that we will have a new building and new facilities at the school," she said. — New technologies are waiting for us, and I hope that the child will like it.

The mother of another first-grader, Anna, said that she was looking forward to the opening of the school.

— We are very glad that we got to a new school. There are a lot of clubs here — chess, dancing, singing, robotics. We want to send our son to robotics, but he still really wants to go to karate.

On September 1, the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, together with the Governor of the Leningrad Region, Alexander Drozdenko, visited the new Aerobatics education center in Gatchina. The school building is equipped with separate educational blocks for senior and junior students, three gyms, an auditorium, a stadium, a media library and sports fields. The room is designed for almost 1.2 thousand people. places.

— Such schools as "Aerobatics" should be replicated not only in the region, but also in Russia, — emphasized Valentina Matvienko.

It is planned to open 12 more new schools in the region in 2025, Alexander Drozdenko said. Major repairs will be carried out in 15 institutions, he added.