Russia adds AI and drones to mandatory school curriculum starting 2024

Starting this academic year, Russian schools are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology into their mandatory curriculum-subjects that were previously taught only in clubs and tech parks. Russia’s Minister of Education, Sergey Kravtsov, announced that AI topics will now be part of the computer science course, while lessons on labor and basic military training will include studies of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Ministry of Education clarified that drone-related content will span multiple subjects. Besides labor classes, UAV topics are integrated into “Fundamentals of Safety and Homeland Defense,” with additional modules offered through extracurricular programs. Kravtsov emphasized that instruction won’t be limited to specialized teachers; math, informatics, and labor educators will all contribute to teaching these new subjects.

This initiative fits within Russia’s broader effort to train talent early for its digital economy and growing drone industry. In 2023, the government approved a national project focused on developing unmanned aviation, aiming to establish a new sector by 2030 that uses drones widely across logistics, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. A similar trend exists with AI: according to the Ministry of Economic Development, many large Russian companies already use AI technologies, with demand for specialists outpacing university output.

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Meanwhile, schools are transitioning to unified federal programs. The ministry has also confirmed plans to introduce standardized history textbooks for grades 5 through 9 this year. This standardization effort now extends to more practical subjects closely tied to the labor market of the near future, including AI and drone education.