OREANDA-NEWS. October 16, 2008. The meeting, the Council’s first in its new membership, was devoted to developing general school education in Russia.

This is an issue that concerns practically everyone in the country and is a key part of national development, Mr Medvedev said, noting that 13.7 million people are currently studying in general educational establishments throughout the country.

Summing up the results of the meeting, Mr Medvedev said that efforts must be made to change above all the status of teachers in Russian society. The President said that the Government should pay particular attention to developing rural schools. Mr Medvedev said there should be common educational and consumer standards in this area.

The President said that the Education National Project has been the most successful of the national projects and promised that education development would be on the agenda at the Council for National Projects’ upcoming meeting.

The Council for Science, Technology and Education was established at the end of 2001 and is a presidential consultative body.