“Fundamentals of religious cultures and secular ethics” has been introduced as a new subject in 57 schools in the South Urals. Today it is just an experiment, but in 2013 it will become a compulsory subject studied at primary education level.

      There have been created several training modules, covering the basics of the Orthodox, Islamic, Buddhist, Jewish religious cultures and secular ethics. The main feature of the subject is that the program can be chosen only in consultation with parents and children, they have to decide which module to study.

      Every school must also decide whether to evaluate knowledge of the new subject. Anyway, this area doesn't require compulsory assessment of academic progress.

      It is notable that “Fundamentals of religious cultures and secular ethics” doesn't involve any religious doctrine, but presents an introduction to world cultures.

      Source: www.edu.ru. Image courtesy: www.worlddocuments.blogspot.com.