Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree abolishing the federal agencies for science and education and giving their functions to the Ministry of Education and Science, the Kremlin press service said on Saturday.

The Federal Agency for Science and Innovations and the Federal Agency for Education were established during a 2004 administrative reform under President Vladimir Putin.

The first agency outlined the state scientific policy, managed the state property in the scientific, technical and innovation spheres and ordered federal programs and projects in these spheres.

The second agency provided state services and handled state property in the spheres of education and youth policy.

A number of prominent Russian scientists hailed the abolition of the two agencies saying that the move will give the ministry more control over education and science.

Gennady Mesyats, a vice president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told RIA Novosti that the creation of the agencies "was a wrong move."

"The agencies received real money while the ministries were involved only in law-making activities," he said.

Nikolai Bulayev, the ex-head of the federal agency for education, said the abolition "was no tragedy" and expressed hope that the ministry will employ officials from the former agencies.

"This decision will make our activities more dynamic, more logical and more responsible," he said.

MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti)