College Admissions Campaign Results Discussed by Education Minister
Russia is experiencing a surge in secondary professional education, as evidenced by the record number of applications and students enrolled in colleges this year. According to the Minister of Education, Sergei Kravtsov, 3.9 million people are currently enrolled in colleges, a figure reminiscent of the 1970s in the RSFSR.
The surge is partly due to a copilot program launched in Russia, which aims to provide additional opportunities for those who have completed basic general education programs to obtain secondary professional education. The program is being implemented in an effort to widen access to secondary professional education and address the labor market's needs in the participating Russian Federation subjects.
The regions participating in the copilot project include Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and the Lipetsk Oblast. From April 1 to December 31, 2025, students in these regions will only need to pass the OGE in Russian and mathematics to obtain a certificate for secondary professional education. This move is expected to make the process more accessible and reduce the pressure on students preparing for the exams.
The most in-demand fields for college admission under the copilot program are aircraft engine production, programming, chemical technology, and computer systems. These fields reflect the labor market's demand for qualified workers and middle-level specialists in these sectors.
The results of the copilot program have shown an increase in secondary professional education in Russia. This year, around 3.5 million applications for college and technical school admission were submitted, which is 900,000 more than in 2024. Out of these applications, 1.1 million students have been admitted, which is 200,000 more than last year.
Sergei Kravtsov, the Minister of Education, has commented on the success of the copilot program, stating a "boom in secondary professional education" in Russia. He also noted that the average score of college applicants was 4, with some specialties reaching 4.9.
The copilot program is part of a broader effort to address the growing demand for skilled workers and middle-level specialists in various fields in Russia. The authorities of the subjects have the right to establish a list of professions and specialties for which students will be admitted to colleges regardless of OGE results with a certificate. This approach is designed to accommodate the labor market's demand for qualified workers and middle-level specialists in the participating Russian Federation subjects.
The copilot program is also aimed at meeting the demand of the labor market in the participating subjects of the Russian Federation for qualified workers and middle-level specialists. It is hoped that the success of the copilot program will lead to its expansion across more regions in Russia, further boosting the country's secondary professional education sector.
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