Putin does not rule out introduction of Christmas holidays in Russian schools

Russian school students may in future have Christmas holidays, said President Putin of Russia in the Kremlin on Saturday at a meeting with the finalists and organizers of the "Teacher of the Year in Russia" contest.

President Putin said, that it would be necessary to bring forward two or three days and then it will be quite likely that the school students will have full-fledged Christmas holidays.

One of the teachers requested President Putin to give the schools more independence - both in financing, in the scientific methodological activity and in defining holidays.

Putin expressed himself for "freedom of action, including in the sphere of holidays." He noted that in some countries the schools define when they go on holiday by themselves. At the same time, the President said that this is done mainly in the regions. "This is not of principled importance and needs to be discussed," said Putin.

The President said that if the schools manage to work out, together with the ministry, such an approach to defining the time of the holidays, the government will not have any complaints to make.