Stories
Russia Shuts Nearly Half Its Schools Since 2000, Rural Areas Hit Hardest
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Firstpost•28-09-2026, 16:40
Russia Shuts Nearly Half Its Schools Since 2000, Rural Areas Hit Hardest
- •Russia's school network has shrunk by approximately 45% since 2000, from 68,800 to under 38,000 schools by 2026, with rural areas experiencing the most significant decline.
- •The number of state schools in rural areas dropped by over half, from more than 45,000 to around 21,000, while urban schools also saw a decline, albeit less severe.
- •This trend is linked to an education ‘optimisation’ program launched in 2001, where funding based on student numbers made smaller schools financially unviable, leading to mergers or closures.
- •The closures have raised concerns about the future of rural settlements, with studies linking the loss of village schools to depopulation as families relocate.
- •Alongside school closures, Russia's education system has introduced new curricula, including weekly ‘Conversations about What Matters’ classes and updated history textbooks, focusing on patriotism and Russia's interpretation of recent events, including the war in Ukraine.
Key Questions Answered
Russia's secondary school network has shrunk by about 45 percent, falling from around 68,800 schools in 2000 to just under 38,000 in 2026.
The closures are linked to a 2001 "optimisation" programme where funding based on student numbers made smaller schools financially unviable, leading to mergers or shutdowns.
Rural areas experienced the most severe losses, with the number of state schools dropping from over 45,000 to about 21,000, meaning more than half have disappeared.
