Drone textbook introduced in occupied territories of Ukraine: What children study
School students (Photo: Getty Images)
In Russia, an official textbook on unmanned aerial vehicles has been published for students in grades 10–11. The manual is planned to be used not only in Russian schools but also in educational institutions in temporarily occupied territories, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation.
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What students will be taught
Based on the publication's content, high school students will undergo a full cycle of drone development — from design to testing.
The program includes construction, programming, 3D modeling, computer vision, and elements of artificial intelligence.
Separate sections are devoted to the registration of UAVs and interaction with regulatory authorities.
Continuous training starting from 8th grade
In 2024, a UAV training manual for grades 8–9 was released and is used in technology classes.
Thus, a consistent system of training school students to work with UAVs is being formed, from middle school through high school.
Government position
Russian officials say that this is about career guidance and the development of technical skills among teenagers.
At the same time, against the backdrop of the full-scale war and the active use of drones in combat operations, the introduction of such subjects into the school curriculum is being viewed as an element of militarizing education.
In practice, a personnel base for the unmanned systems sector is being formed, and preparation for war begins while still in school.
In Ukraine, an operational system for reporting school and kindergarten absences is being launched: data on truancy will be transmitted in real time among educators, the police, and social services to enable faster responses.
Educational institutions can independently establish rules regarding the use of mobile phones during lessons, provided that such restrictions are agreed with parents. At the same time, separate orders or special instructions from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine are not required to implement such a social contract.
