Vladimir Putin: Professional and technical training in Russia must be a priority in educational policy

President Vladimir Putin thinks professional and technical education must become one of the priorities of Russia's educational policy. He spoke about it today in Krasnogorsk, the vicinity of Moscow, at a local college of optics and electronics, meeting its students and lecturers on the occasion of a new school year in the country.

"Success or failure of the country depends to a large degree on whether it blends with the world economy. Russia has good positions, they should be preserved it would be "impossible to achieve that without qualified personnel", replied President Putin to a student's question as to why he had chosen precisely that college to visit it on September 1st.

The President admitted, there was not enough attention devoted to professional education in the past years, as it was necessary to solve other, more important, issues.

Replying to another student's inquiry whether the state considers assisting graduates in employment, Vladimir Putin said "the instruments for graduates' employment must be only market ones".

"Your merchandise on the market is your knowledge and the quality of training," the President emphasised.

He assured the college students scholarships would be raised in the future as well. As of today, students' scholarships have been doubled. Putin also noted one condition was necessary to increase scholarships: Russia's economy and labour efficiency must significantly grow. No doubt, this will happen", said Russian President.