Parents supported the initiative to teach schoolchildren in Dagestan how to file complaints about utility violations.

In the schools of Dagestan, a subject should be introduced to teach children how to properly compose appeals to authorities for effective resolution of issues related to utility emergencies, so that residents do not resort to radical measures like blocking roads, suggested activist Arsen Magomedov. Parents of schoolchildren supported this idea, noting that such classes could teach children not to limit themselves to complaints on social media, as adults often do nowadays.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", residents of Dagestan have repeatedly held protests due to prolonged utility problems, resorting to radical measures, including blocking roads. For instance, on August 13 of this year, residents of Irchi Kazaka Street in Makhachkala blocked traffic after three days without electricity, and on August 6, residents of houses on Akhmat Kadyrov Street blocked the road due to regular power outages. In August 2023, residents of the village of Karaman-2 blocked the federal highway after experiencing water supply issues all summer. In the same month, Makhachkala residents repeatedly blocked traffic on city streets and avenues, demanding the restoration of water and electricity supply.

Teaching schoolchildren how to properly file complaints and applications to government authorities in practical social studies lessons was proposed by a member of the "Our City" movement, lawyer Arsen Magomedov. He addressed this initiative to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, which clarified that schools have the right to independently introduce such classes, Magomedov reported on November 10 on his Telegram channel.

After receiving a response from the federal agency, the lawyer sent proposals to the Ministry of Education of Dagestan and the education department of Makhachkala. In his opinion, teaching schoolchildren how to interact with government bodies is especially relevant for Dagestan, where residents regularly face utility problems and go out to protest.

"I think this is especially important for Dagestan. People often block roads due to problems with water and electricity. Many of these conflicts could be avoided if residents knew where and how to properly appeal and seek solutions to their problems. Of course, provided that officials also work properly with appeals," Magomedov wrote.

In his appeal to Dagestani officials, the activist offered to personally and free of charge help prepare the lesson. He also referred to the experience of the "Our City" movement, through which more than 20,000 appeals on various issues were sent to government structures via a special bot.

"High school students do not know how to appeal to government authorities. The social studies course provides theory about the state and citizens' rights, but does not teach where and how to write if the water is turned off, garbage is not collected, or the bus does not run. Thus, another generation enters adult life without knowing legal ways to solve problems," said Magomedov in his letter to the Ministry of Education of Dagestan, a photocopy of which he attached to the post.

Introducing schoolchildren to the mechanisms of filing appeals to government bodies is necessary before they finish school, as even high school students often show no interest in solving utility problems, believes a teacher from Makhachkala Raisat. As an example, she cited the behavior of her son, who is in the tenth grade and plans to pursue a legal education.

"My son is in the 10th grade. When my husband and I discuss where to complain about constant power outages and how to influence officials, he approaches this issue without involvement. We ask him what he would advise, and he replies, you are adults, figure it out yourselves. Although he wants to study law," she told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Practical classes on interacting with government institutions will help prepare schoolchildren for independent life, believes an entrepreneur from Makhachkala Askhab. In his assessment, even if only a few students in the class acquire the necessary skills, it will be a positive result.

"I support this initiative. Children should prepare for independent life, knowing how to act in unforeseen situations. Even if only a few people from the entire class acquire such skills, it is already a significant progress," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Residents of Dagestan often complain about utility problems on social media, but do not use the legally prescribed procedure for official appeals to officials, noted a construction worker from Makhachkala Abduragim. In his opinion, teaching schoolchildren how to compose complaints will change this practice.

"In Dagestan, people like to complain about utility and other problems in various chats, on social media, while being dissatisfied that no one responds to such appeals. At the same time, no one wants or knows how to write an official appeal to government authorities. We need to teach children these skills from school. The more complaints there are to officials, the greater the chance that they will respond," he told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

The practice of using official appeals to solve problems in Dagestani schools has already been applied by activists. For example, in September 2023, the "Our City" movement created a Telegram bot that allowed parents to send complaints to the prosecutor's office due to a lack of free textbooks. In the same month, it became known that the prosecutor's office of Makhachkala confirmed violations based on one of the complaints sent through the bot and submitted a representation to the Minister of Education and Science of Dagestan.

In September of this year, parents of schoolchildren from Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, and the Novolaksky district again complained about the lack of free textbooks, and the Ministry of Education of the republic acknowledged the existence of the problem.