The Russian government has approved a law that obligates couples to get special training before adopting a child.

      According to the Science and Education Ministry, special parental classes will provide couples with the pedagogical and legal information, which will help them to to accept abandoned children into their families successfully.

      The new law comes into force on September 1. It also provides for adoptive parents to present certificates attesting that they have not been convicted of a crime endangering the life and health of others.

      About 150,000 children were available for nationwide adoption in 2009, according to  the Russian Education and Science Ministry. Almost 9,000 of them were adopted and 77,000 were placed with foster families. 

Sources: Newsland RIA Novosti Image: kurs.ru