On December 1, the All-Russian Congress of Mathematics and Biology Teachers was opened by Russian Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, and Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy. The event is held in honor of Mathematician's Day, which is being celebrated in Russia for the second time.
The congress, dedicated to the role of mathematical and science education, began with a plenary session featuring reports by leading scientists and educators. Key topics included the role of mathematics in developing technological sovereignty, its place in interdisciplinary research, particularly in biology, as well as the application of artificial intelligence and computing in education and science. Viktor Sadovnichy proposed establishing a professional holiday, "Biologist's Day," on May 15, the birthday of Russian biologist and Nobel laureate Ilya Mechnikov.
"Today we celebrate Mathematician's Day, and the hall is filled with teachers of mathematics and biology. The Russian Government has approved an action plan to improve the quality of mathematical and science education. We already have good results. In the 2024/25 academic year, over 800,000 students studied advanced-level programs in these subjects. To date, we have approved unified curricula for all subjects. State textbooks for science disciplines are being developed with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Our task is to synchronize the courses in mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, and computer science. Dear colleagues, I want to congratulate you on your professional holiday and thank you for the work you do with students to popularize scientific knowledge. This is extremely important for our country's technological leadership", said Russian Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.
The head of the Russian Ministry of Education noted that in the 2024/25 academic year, there were 872 engineering-profile classes at the basic general education level and 3,005 such classes at the secondary general education level operating in the country. The number of students who failed to pass the specialized-level mathematics exams decreased – from 1.94% in 2024 to 1.7% in 2025.
The Minister of Education also highlighted school students' achievements in international Olympiads. In 2025, at the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad, the Russian team won five gold and one silver medal. Students also showed high results at the 36th International Biology Olympiad, winning four out of four possible medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze).
Valery Falkov reported that the comprehensive plan to improve the quality of mathematical and science education includes 40 specific initiatives.
"Our cooperation with the faculty and laboratories of Moscow State University has long-standing traditions. Thanks to this cooperation, a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of mathematical and science education until 2030 has been developed. It includes 40 specific initiatives aimed at enhancing the teaching of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology", he emphasized.
MSU Rector Academician Viktor Sadovnichy stressed that Moscow University attaches great importance to holding subject-teacher congresses, as it preserves the tradition of dialogue between schools and universities.
"Our congresses have consistently served as a fruitful professional platform for discussing the state and prospects of school and university mathematical education. During our 2023 congress, I voiced my initiative to establish a professional holiday, 'Mathematician's Day,' in Russia. The idea then received strong support from Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin and Minister of Education Sergey Sergeyevich Kravtsov. And today, on the anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian mathematician Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky, we are celebrating Mathematician's Day for the second year already. Events for Mathematician's Day are being held at 150 universities across our country", he said.
The rector also emphasized that the themes of the congress's expert sessions reflect current issues in the development of mathematics and biology education in Russia and are directly linked to fulfilling the instructions of the country's President and Government.