Drone piloting skills to be integrated into Russia's GTO fitness standards

Drone control tests added to the GTO program

According to Главком: Russia's Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev has announced plans to incorporate drone piloting exercises into the national GTO fitness program. A pilot phase is scheduled for 2024, with the new standard becoming available to participants across the Russian Federation starting the following year. Scores from these tests will be counted as individual achievements for university and institute admissions in Russia.

Degtyarev made the announcement during the All-Russian Congress of Physical Education Teachers. Separately, in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, over 10,000 Ukrainian teenagers have been enrolled in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) training programs. Children as young as 8 are participating, highlighting a strong youth interest in mastering new technologies.

Growing popularity of drone piloting courses

Drone piloting courses have already been implemented in more than 500 schools and 30 colleges across Russia, where dedicated training centers have been established. This push to develop drone piloting skills is gaining traction among young people and could enhance their future career prospects. The information was sourced from Mikhail Degtyarev and the publication 'Glavkom'.

This initiative to add drone control tests to the GTO program underscores the growing importance of new technologies in Russia's youth education and physical development. As drones become increasingly prevalent in fields ranging from sports to industry, learning to operate them could give young people a competitive edge in the job market. Against the backdrop of similar UAV training programs being rolled out for youth in Ukraine, these developments reflect a global trend toward integrating tech skills into education.