Russia set to teach schoolchildren how to assemble assault weapons

Russia is reportedly reintroducing ‘basic military training’ to the school curriculum from next year teaching young children how to assemble automatic rifles in a return to ‘Soviet-era school classes’. Boys and girls in Russian schools will be taught how to ‘get to grips with assault rifles’, according to a Russian newspaper, in a move that has divided opinions among locals. Reading out an extract from the paper, BBC Russia correspondent Steve Rosenberg reported that one Russian mother supported the move because it was important to be ‘prepared for the reality of today’, while another Muscovite said there was ‘no place’ for military drills in schools and that they should be a place of ‘peace and happiness’. Mr Rosenberg reported: ‘Today’s Russian papers leave me with the distinct feeling that there are some people in power here who want to drag Russia back in time, back to the past. ‘Under the headline, ‘Schoolchildren will get to grips with assault rifles’, Moskovsky Komsomolets reports on the imminent return of a Soviet-era school class: ‘Basic Military Training’. ‘[Mr Komsomolets] writes: ‘The Defence Ministry has supported the introduction of military training in schools and colleges. Those who studied in Soviet schools well remember having to assemble and disassemble assault rifles at speed. ”Luckily in those days, schoolgirls were not allowed manicures. They had shooting practice and put on gas masks.’ Russian children will learn to use Kalashnikov assault rifles (Image: GETTY ) Russian education minister Sergey Kravtsov annoucned the military programme on Wednesday (Image: Twitter )’The paper said: ‘Parents are divided on the militarisation of schools. Muscovite Olga Turenko, who has ten children, believes that kids must be prepared for the reality of today.”But Muscovite Galina says there is no place for basic military training and militarised physical education in the 21st Century. ”We must prepare our children, especially in school, not for war, but for a peaceful and happy life.’ ‘Well, there is little sign of that peaceful and happy life, not since Putin turned the world upside down by invading Ukraine.’ READ MORE: Ukraine warned to concede a Crimea vote to avoid ‘very bloody battle’ [REVEAL]  Ukrainian citizens are also taking military lessons (Image: GETTY ) Russia have suffered severe losses in Ukraine since their invasion in February (Image: EXPRESS)Russian education minister Sergey Kravtsov said on Wednesday that the basic military training course would be introduced from the start of next year as a test. He said: ‘It will be introduced in schools starting from the next academic year. Now it is being drafted and after January 1, it will begin to be tested.’ His announcement to the Russian media came after a meeting with the honorary jury panel of the Znaniye (Knowledge) educational award.A document procured by the Russian state news agency Tass suggested that the course was being reintroduced to the school curriculum in the interest of teaching the basics of civil defence. DON’T MISS: Putin’s dirty deal with Iran exposed – captured British missile traded [REVEAL] Sean Penn hands over Oscar to Zelensky as Ukraine war rages on [REPORT] UK to send fighter jets and Chinooks to Russia’s doorstep [REVEAL]  Russian soldiers line up having been captured by Ukrainian forces (Image: GETTY )Western reaction to the report was largely one of shock, with one person describing the move as ‘backward’. A Twitter user wrote: ‘What a backwards step. Surely teaching children how to be peace-makers would be better for all our futures.’But others were less critical of the move, citing their own cadet force initiatives at school as evidence that military practices in school were not inherently harmful. One user said: ‘We had a cadet force at our school. We went in on Fridays in military uniform, learned to strip, clean and assemble rifles, light machine guns etc. ‘For all I know, this still happens in the UK. So this isn’t just a Russian thing, and I turned out okay.’ READ NEXT: Putin shifting to desperate three-pronged attack strategy in Ukraine Ukraine – Putin dealt hammer blow as Donetsk ‘littered with bodiesAir raid sirens sound across most of Ukraine over Russia threatPutin plots second test of Satan-II nuclear missileAmerican fighter ‘killed in action’ in Ukraine