The Final of the IX All-Russian Professional Skills Competition "Teacher-Defectologist of Russia — 2026" Has Started in Moscow
On September 28, a ceremonial opening of the IX All-Russian Professional Skills Competition "Teacher-Defectologist of Russia — 2026" took place at the site of the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy. 20 laureates from 19 constituent entities of the Russian Federation are participating in the final. The organizer of the competition is the Russian Ministry of Education.
Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov addressed the finalists and guests of the competition with a welcoming speech.
"The profession of a defectologist is special. You work with children who need an individual route. Their path to knowledge lies through difficulties that most people do not face. The competition unites different specialists solving complex tasks: speech therapists, teachers of the deaf, teachers of the blind. We see how the scale of the competition is growing: today its geography covers almost the entire country. This means that the system of correctional and inclusive education is developing, and you are driving it forward. The competition is not only a contest; it is a platform for exchanging experience, professional growth, and open dialogue. I am confident that the methods and developments you present will be in demand far beyond the competition venues", noted Sergey Kravtsov.
Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova sent parting words to the finalists. She expressed gratitude to the Russian Ministry of Education, the Interregional Union of Defectologists, and the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy for their attention to specialists working with children, including those with disabilities, and emphasized that each participant is a professional who does not retreat, seeks an approach to each child, and helps children learn, develop, realize themselves, and be happy. According to her, the competition serves as an expert platform for exchanging experience, getting acquainted with interesting practices, and scaling them up.
Director of the Department of State Policy for the Protection of Children's Rights of the Russian Ministry of Education Larisa Falkovskaya, welcoming the participants, drew attention to the fact that the competition is held as part of the Big Teachers' Week. According to her, more than 84,000 speech therapists and special education teachers work in the Russian education system today.
President of the Russian Academy of Education Olga Vasilyeva also sent a welcoming address to the participants. She noted that no tools or technologies can replace a living, caring educator, and the competition proves this every year.
Director of the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy Tatyana Solovieva wished the finalists success and enjoyment from professional communication.
The competition is held in two nominations: "Defectologist of the Year" and "Speech Therapist of the Year." This year, representatives of 78 constituent entities of the Russian Federation took part in the regional stage, and 20 best educators reached the final: 10 laureates in the nomination "Defectologist of the Year" and 10 in the nomination "Speech Therapist of the Year," from whom the competition winners will be determined.
The program of the in-person stage includes three competitive tests: "Master Class" and "Case Method in Special Defectological Education," as well as "Open Group Session, or Lesson with Students with Disabilities," which will take place on the basis of educational organizations in Moscow.
The names of the winners will be announced on September 30.
The competition has been held since 2018 on the initiative of the Russian Ministry of Education. It is aimed at the career, professional, and personal growth of special education teachers and speech therapists, and at supporting innovative developments and technologies for organizing the educational process for students with disabilities and special educational needs.
The operator of the competition is the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy.