A major development in global education has just unfolded: Russia has banned the International Baccalaureate. What does this mean for independent thinking, global values, and the role of schools in shaping young minds?

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Speak Your Mind! 🎯 “Education Is Never Neutral: What Are We Teaching Our Children?” by Dejan Trpkovic

29–AUG–2025 | On August 25, 2025, Russia’s Prosecutor General designated the International Baccalaureate (IB) as an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning it.

The prosecutor’s office claimed the IB had “adjusted” its curriculum after the invasion of Ukraine to reflect a “Russophobic stance,” including alleged calls for isolating Russia and “content discrediting the Russian army.” It also accused IB representatives of promoting “non-traditional values based on the ideology of banned extremist organizations.” Although these accusations have been formally made, there is still no available independent confirmation of them.

It should be noted that the IB organization previously condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and pledged support for students and educators affected by the war.

The IB, a nonprofit working with more than 5,000 schools in 150+ countries, is widely regarded as the gold standard for pre-university education. Its programs emphasize inquiry-based learning, intercultural understanding, and a set of core skills: communication, research, self-management, social, and thinking.

Some critics, in this case Russian authorities, argue that these values are not neutral. But every education system carries an agenda:

In Russia, curricula highlight patriotism and state loyalty.
In China, schools emphasize moral and civic duties aligned with national ideology.
In the West, systems often prioritize questioning authority and individual thought.

The real debate is not whether IB has an agenda – it does – but whether that agenda conflicts with national priorities. Russia’s decision shows how global programs built on openness and critical inquiry can clash with governments that prefer tighter control over narratives and values.

Where do I stand? I believe education that nurtures independent thought and reasoning still offers the best protection for young people against manipulation – whatever the political system. Whether one agrees with IB’s principles or not, the larger question remains: do we want schools to train loyalty, or to encourage students to think for themselves?

Dejan Trpkovic
Managing Director, PRODIREKT
Founder of Verbalists Education & Language Network