Russia Is Replacing Microsoft with Its Own Operating System in Schools
As Moscow pushes for digital independence, classrooms in the Altai Republic are switching to Astra Linux — a homegrown alternative to Western software.
In a new move to strengthen digital sovereignty, Russia is phasing out foreign software in its public schools. The Altai Republic’s Ministry of Education has signed an agreement with Astra Group, the country’s largest developer of operating systems and cybersecurity tools, to install the Russian-made Astra Linux across schools and colleges.
The plan includes upgrading computer labs, creating regional training centers, and teaching educators to use the domestic system. Teachers will receive certification courses, and specialized manuals will help students and staff adapt to the new digital environment.
Building a self-sufficient education system
The Republic’s Center for Education Quality Assessment, which coordinates the rollout, says the shift marks a step toward an independent and secure educational infrastructure.
Officials say the project lays the groundwork for training the next generation of IT professionals on Russian technology from the classroom up. By next year, schools across the country are expected to receive tablets preinstalled with Russian software — another sign that Moscow’s long campaign for technological independence is moving from the boardroom to the blackboard.
