An educational project «Keys» has been launched in Kursk to help 10th and 11th grade students from large, low-income families and orphans prepare for the USE. The project is already being implemented in Moscow, the Komi Republic, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Pskov regions. It started in 2020 in Moscow parishes at the initiative of the Social Ministry Department of the Moscow (City) Eparchy under the leadership of Archpriest Mikhail Potokin, currently acting chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry. During this time, the number of schoolchildren has grown to 300. 75 students and graduate students from leading universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg work with them as tutors. Classes for students are free of charge regardless of their religion.
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«We have long thought that the program should be launched in different regions so that children from low-income families could prepare for state exams, — said Archpriest Mikhail Potokin. — In Kursk region the situation is different. Even if schoolchildren from fairly well-to-do families, they now do not have the opportunity to study in peace. Many schools are closed, it is difficult to go to them, someone moved to other regions or lives with relatives. We understand how worried parents and children are who have to pass exams and enter universities. And first of all we help those schoolchildren who find themselves in a difficult life situation.
In the new center in Kursk, classes are held in a distance format. 13 pupils are engaged in mathematics, Russian language — 18. There are also lessons in biology, computer science and English in combined groups with children from other centers.
This year, the project covered more than 15 regions, and the number of students grew to 300. The USE preparation lessons are taught by teachers from Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics, the Russian Biotechnology University and other Russian universities; 75 undergraduate and graduate students. Ten methodologists supervise their work. Preparation for exams is carried out in Russian language, profile math, physics, computer science, social science, biology and English. Also, an additional project «Education Plus» is being developed, within the framework of which participants will have an opportunity to attend thematic circles on art, music and literature.
This year, of the 43 schoolchildren who completed the course, 27 entered the budget places. Among them, four children scored above 90 on the USE in Russian language. In September, the project started in seven centers: in Rodniki on the basis of the Spiritual Education Center, in Yuryevets on the basis of a secondary school, in Shuya and Lukh in the Ivanovo region, in Opochka in the Pskov region, in Ryazhsk in the Ryazan region, and in Syktyvkar on the basis of Sunday schools. The organizers plan to spread the experience of the project to other dioceses so that schoolchildren, especially those from small towns, have the opportunity to get a good education.
News and stories about the Church's social ministry are published in Telegram channel «Church Affairs» and in the groups of the Synodal Department for Charity in VK, OK, on Youtube channel.
.You can help refugees and affected civilians at helpvbede.rf. You can support church social projects on the online platform of the Synodal Department for Charity «Let's Help».
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