Nationwide training seminar for press secretaries of regional education authorities was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

The event was organized by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the federal state autonomous institution "Centre for Educational Initiatives of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation."

The seminar began with a welcome address by Vladimir Zhelonkin, Advisor to the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation.

"This traditional meeting, now in its fourth year, is dedicated to the information support of education in our country. We are here to discuss communication strategies, establish effective interactions with diverse target audiences, and exchange experiences and best practices," Vladimir Zhelonkin said.

Sofia Malyavina, Director General of the ANO "National Priorities," emphasized that the most important thing is to trust oneself.  

"The younger generation rarely listens to advice from adults, so it might be better to give them ‘anti-advice.’ However, if they do choose to listen to me, my key piece of advice is to trust themselves and find that inner support within them to move forward. This will help them grow and find their place in life," Sofia Malyavina noted.

The seminar brought together representatives from Russian regions, communication experts, media professionals, academic communities, and development institutions.

"The Ministry of Education serves as the primary transmitter of values to parents and children. Moving forward, it’s important to agree on the tools for communicating these values. This is the aim of today’s seminar and meeting," stated Natalia Agre, Director of the Department of State Policy in Education, Additional Education, and Children’s Recreation at the Ministry of Education of Russia.

Andrei Gorobets, Director of the Department of Digital Transformation and Big Data at the Ministry of Education of Russia, highlighted the role of modern information technologies in the educational system.

"Education, regardless of the level, is primarily about the contact between a teacher and a student. The younger the students, the more attention they need during lessons or practical activities. However, as they grow older, they require more knowledge from a variety of sources. This is where modern information technologies should step in. Unfortunately, some students rely on shortcuts such as answer keys or AI tools to solve problems. The skill of a modern teacher lies in crafting assignments that enable students to acquire knowledge and skills through interaction with digital environments, using safe tools like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, or even a simple ballpoint pen," he explained.

The seminar opened with a plenary session titled "Education in Focus: Horizons of Development and Information Challenges."

Participants included Alexei Zharich, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects; Vladimir Zhelonkin, Advisor to the Minister of Education of Russia; Alexander Khinshtein, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies, and Communications; Sofia Malyavina, Director General of the ANO "National Priorities"; and Marina Kim, television journalist and Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

During the session, key federal projects in education and enlightenment were discussed, along with strategies for enhancing media support in regions and the role of information security as a foundation for implementing state policy in education.

As noted by Alexander Khinshtein, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies, and Communications, press secretaries must respond to fake news as quickly as possible, without fear of taking the initiative in such matters.

"We live in an era of rapid response, and the realm of information warfare does not tolerate voids. When fake news starts spreading, a lack of response from the authorities allows it to gain traction and trend. Catching up with a runaway train is much harder. Therefore, my advice to you is this: do not be afraid to take initiative. If you encounter critical information situations, you must react immediately, even if there is no time to get approval. The consequences of your silence can be far worse than the lack of proper agreement with your leadership," Alexander Khinshtein said.

Participants discussed key issues of information support in the field of education and enlightenment. Topics included creating a positive information agenda and news hooks, crisis communications, working with new media, and building a personal brand.

The nationwide seminar for press secretaries of regional education management bodies was organized to provide methodological support to professionals responsible for the media coverage of key topics, events, and areas of activity of the Ministry of Education of Russia.

Its goal is to promote best practices and exchange experiences to develop effective communication strategies within the modern educational space.