Yelena Yampolskaya: work on new Russian language and literature textbooks is being carried out with the participation of the National Centre RUSSIA

Cooperation between the National Centre RUSSIA and the Presidential Council for State Policy on Promoting the Russian Language and the Languages of the Peoples of Russia will become part of the work on developing new state-approved school textbooks. This was announced by Presidential Adviser Yelena Yampolskaya during a meeting of the the Presidential Council for State Policy on Promoting the Russian Language and the Languages of the Peoples of Russia.

"We traditionally hold Council meetings on the eve of Pushkin Day of Russia, which is also the Russian Language Day. First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the upcoming holiday. I thank you for your active work, particularly for preparing the Foundations of the State Language Policy of the Russian Federation. For the first time in our country, we now have a strategic planning document defining priority tasks and key directions in preserving, developing and promoting the Russian language, as well as the languages of our republics and other peoples living in Russia," Vladimir Putin told participants in the meeting.

Presidential Adviser Yelena Yampolskaya thanked Vladimir Putin for approving the Foundations of the State Language Policy and reported that the Council had already begun implementing the objectives set out in the document. According to her, unified state textbooks in Russian language and literature for grades 10–11 and vocational education institutions have been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Education for expert review. Work on textbooks for the remaining school years is continuing in close cooperation with educators, parents and schoolchildren.

Yelena Yampolskaya noted that the new textbooks are being developed on the basis of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and the best literary works about Russia. They provide for the annual study of works dedicated to the Great Patriotic War and the literatures of the peoples of Russia, while also reflecting the living development of the language, including modern-day expressions that have already become part of everyday speech.

"We have agreed to cooperate with the National Centre RUSSIA. It is there that information about the achievements of today's Russia and the successes of each individual region is accumulated most comprehensively and systematically. For schoolchildren, this information is both interesting and important. Moreover, it connects textbooks with real life and makes them relevant and dynamic. I would like to thank our colleagues at the National Centre for their willingness to work together," said Yelena Yampolskaya.

She also informed the President that the Council for the Development and Promotion of a New Russian Style, operating under the National Centre RUSSIA, continues its work. According to her, one of its priority areas is the creation of public art objects based on the Cyrillic alphabet for use in public spaces, including lighting solutions, landscape design elements and small architectural forms.

"The Cyrillic alphabet is so visually expressive and speaks so strongly both to our minds and our hearts that young designers, often still students, are taking on such projects with great enthusiasm. We hope that soon we will see these works in the streets and parks of our cities and towns," she added.

The Council for the Development and Promotion of a New Russian Style at the National Centre RUSSIA aims to: create a nationally oriented visual environment; counter excessive use of the Latin alphabet in urban spaces; promote traditional values through visual language and contribute to a coherent image of Russia as a strong modern state with a rich cultural legacy.

The National Centre RUSSIA systematically supports the Russian language and the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation launching cultural, educational, exposition and international initiatives. As part of the International RUSSIA EXPO and its own programme, the Centre organises large-scale events ranging from poetry flash mobs and literary concerts to lectures, festivals and meetings with writers which focus on classical and contemporary Russian literature, as well as the country's linguistic diversity. Particular attention is given to promoting reading and language culture through initiatives such as the literary club named "What to Read?!", the lecture series "Speak Like…", podcasts and the "Young Journalists School" project, where young people learn the fundamentals of language, communication and journalism. The National Centre's exposition activities also play an important role. Interactive zones, expositions and regional projects introduce visitors to the richness of the Russian language and the languages of Russia's peoples, and demonstrate them the cultural code of the country's regions. Internationally, the National Centre RUSSIA promotes the Russian language as a language of cultural and humanitarian dialogue through expositions, creative projects and discussions at international trade fairs and forums.