The All-Russian forum "ORIYENTIRY DETSTVA 5.0" has reaffirmed its position as the key platform for an open discussion on the challenges and opportunities in preschool education. There were no formal reports — instead, there were dynamic debates, active exchanges of views, and discussions. The organisers set a bold objective: not only to energise and motivate educators for the upcoming academic year but also to ensure that everyone's voice was heard.
"I’m endlessly happy that I’ve spent my whole life working in preschool education; ours is undoubtedly the best in the world," Doctor of Psychological Sciences, rector of the Moscow State University, Professor Nikolai Veraksa, said with pride and warmth during the opening remarks. These words set the tone for the entire forum — serious, vibrant, and human-centered.
Support from above — trust from below
The forum received strong support: welcoming remarks were sent by representatives of state and executive authorities, as well as public organizations, including the Federation Council Committee on Education, Science, and Culture, the State Duma Committee on Education, the Moscow City Duma, the All-Russian Trade Union of Education, and the All-Russian Public Organization "Educators of Russia." Words of support were also extended by Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Elena Yampolskaya, Director of the Department of Preschool Education of the Ministry of Education of Russia Alexander Reut, and President of the Russian Academy of Education Olga Vasilyeva. The atmosphere was exceptional—responsible, trusting, and inspiring.
One of the symbolic events of the opening was the signing ceremony of memoranda of cooperation between MPADO, the Moscow Union of Educational Organizations (MUEO), the UN, "Educators of Russia," and other leading institutions. This gesture symbolized unity, a systematic approach, and a commitment to working together for the common future of children.
About the education development strategy
At the plenary session "Strategy for the Development of Preschool Education," the following discussed how to develop a sovereign system of Russian education based on the best traditions and practices of Russian pedagogy: Elena Pisareva, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Larisa Solodilova, Chairperson of the All-Russian Trade Union of Education, Lyubov Dukhanina, Chairperson of the Council for Professional Qualifications in Education, Elena Pristupa, Director of the Institute for Child Development, Health and Adaptation (IRZAR), Elena Izotova, Head of the Department of Developmental Psychology at Moscow State Pedagogical University, Head of the Group for the Generation, Transfer and Acquisition of Knowledge at the Scientific Center for Cognitive Research at the Sirius University of Science and Technology, Irina Viner, President of the All-Russian Association of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Natalia Altynikova, Head and Coordinator of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Reducing the Bureaucratic Burden, Member of the Public Council of Rosobrnadzor, Tatyana Batysheva, Deputy of the Moscow City Duma, Director Scientific and Practical Center for Child Psychoneurology of the Moscow Department of Health, Emmanuel Baghramyan, Deputy Head of the Center for Education Development of the Russian Academy of Education, Alexander Shcherbak, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the All-Russian Public Organization "Educators of Russia".
A program without borders: from performances to robots
The forum's program was so diverse that each participant could create their own unique route.
The cluster's hallways were bustling with activity:
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Trainings on conflict management and emotional resilience,
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Master classes from the winners of the All-Russian "Educator of the Year" competition
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Pillow lectures—casual but informative discussions about speech and motor development,
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Puppet shows for children and adults
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Reading books with therapy dogs—an unusual but effective way to reduce anxiety and engage children in the process.
The venues discussed the design of kindergartens of the future: with eco-friendly materials, smart development zones, and integrated safety and comfort systems. During breaks between sessions, guests played traditional games, participated in quests, and even watched an illusion show, a reminder that childhood is a place of wonder.
"Ideal kindergarten": children's opinion, parents' dreams, challenges for professionals
One of the key topics was "The Ideal Kindergarten." For the first time, not only professionals but also parents and children themselves were involved in the discussion through the "Child's Voice" initiative. The children drew pictures of kindergartens they would enjoy visiting: with "dragon slides," "kind robots," lots of toys, and teachers who were permissive. The adults debated how to bring these fantasies to life.
Let's talk about the main things: bureaucracy, workload, profession
Teachers used the forum as an opportunity to discuss pressing issues. During a discussion about bureaucracy, Natalya Altynikova from Rosobrnadzor acknowledged that the workload on educators is excessive, and a working group is already preparing changes. Teachers complained about the "red tape" that interferes with their work with children: "We don't need reports, but time for play and development."
Dialogue through time: memory, science, personality
The heart of the forum was the round table “Dialogue Through Time,” dedicated to the anniversaries of two great scientists: Alexander Zaporozhets (120 years since his birth) and Leonid Venger (100 years since his birth).
Their students, true legends of Russian pedagogy, took the stage. Professor Oksana Semyonovna Ushakova recounted:
"They taught us the most important thing — to see each child as an individual. Not an object of development, but a subject of their own life."
Memories, archival photographs, rare recordings — all of this served as a reminder that the modern preschool education system grew out of a deep scientific tradition, wh ere the primary criterion for success was not statistics, but the child's destiny.
A special issue of the journal "Preschool Education Today" was prepared for the forum, publishing unique archival materials, interviews, and letters by L.A. Venger for the first time. This became a gift for many generations of educators — living history that they could touch.
Preschool education unites
For the first time in the history of Forum, the International Assembly of Preschool Education (supported by Rossotrudnichestvo) and the International Symposium "Teaching and Development of Children in the Digital Age" (supported by the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO) were held.
Speakers from France, Kyrgyzstan, Spain, and Belarus shared experiences and discussed challenges of cooperation. Despite differing views and approaches to education and upbringing, the speakers spoke a common language — the language of childhood.
Thirteen UNESCO Chairs and Associated Schools discussed how digitalization impacts children's brain development, how to create a safe environment in the age of gadgets, and how to preserve endangered indigenous languages through child-created animation.
Innovation Exhibition: the future is already here
An innovation exhibition space of over 2,000 square meters hosted 40 companies presenting their developments:
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Smart play areas with touch controls;
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Eco-friendly building materials;
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Interactive panels for motor skills development.
Leaving the Forum, teachers took home not only certificates and teaching materials, but also a special feeling—the confidence that their voices are heard and that the teaching profession truly changes the world.
FORUM STATISTICS
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10,230 participants from 89 regions of the Russian Federation and 22 countries registered.
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The event was attended by over 6,000 people from 78 regions of the Russian Federation and foreign countries: Armenia, Indonesia, Spain, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Belarus.
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480 speakers from 76 regions of the Russian Federation were invited to participate in the business program.
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200 teachers attended the forum as part of 19 official regional delegations.
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Fourteen renowned scholars, renowned in the field of pedagogical science, participated in the roundtable discussion "Dialogue Through Time," dedicated to the anniversaries of the world-renowned founders of Russian preschool education: the 120th anniversary of A.V. Zaporozhets and the 100th anniversary of L.A. Venger.
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21 professional communities of preschool teachers sent their representatives.
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86 participants from 22 countries participated in the International Assembly of Preschool Education, held in a hybrid format.
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74 preschool education specialists expressed interest in the International Symposium "Child Learning and Development in the Digital Age," which featured 13 UNESCO Chairs, 7 UNESCO Associated Schools in Russia, and a chair from the Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University.
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466 teachers from 39 regions of the Russian Federation participated in the "Voice of the Child" campaign. The forum received over 1,000 postcards with children's opinions on their vision of an ideal kindergarten.
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40 companies exhibited at the educational solutions exhibition.