The Ministry of Education of Russia has banned teachers from using WhatsApp and other foreign messengers in the work process. Kommersant writes about this with reference to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Khabarovsk Territory and the administration of the Kursk Region.
Instead of foreign messengers, teachers are recommended to switch to Russian, from VKontakte to VK Messenger. As Kommersant was explained in the regions, on August 26 they received a letter with instructions that the regions should “ensure testing” of its use, as well as the Sferum training platform. The latter was developed by VK and Rostelecom.
The Ministry of Education of the Nizhny Novgorod Region reported that it recommended that teachers stop using not only foreign messengers, but also other services. For example, from Google Drive cloud storage.
At the same time, TASS writes that there is no talk of a ban. According to them, teachers were only recommended to switch to the My School system.
Participants in parental chats in several regions told Kommersant that they were also advised to abandon foreign services. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, this is justified by “threats to information security”. The Ministry of Education stated that they do not control the channels of communication of parents.
Teachers are not the first to be transferred to Russian software and services. In early September, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree requiring Russian authorities, subordinate organizations and courts to create and maintain an account on VKontakte or Odnoklassniki.