Russia regional education study, July 26, 1999

As part of a government education reform program in the Russian Federation (RF), the Ministry of General and Professional Education (MGPE) was asked to develop strategies to reduce education costs and increase the relevance of educational output to the demands of a changing market economy. This study was undertaken by the World Bank for the MGPE to identify key issues in general primary and secondary, and vocational secondary education in order to assist government implementation of educational reform. As a result of earlier reforms, responsibility for general education in Russia lies with regional authorities and the study therefore includes analyses at the regional and sub-regional levels. The first chapter presents major issues in Russian education. The discussion is based on primary and secondary data analysis and dialogue with Russian educators. Chapter two analyses budgetary trends in the 89 regions of Russia and addresses the differences across Russia and the increasing inequalities in the allocation and use of funds at regional and sub-regional levels. Chapter three outlines policy options in the areas of resource mobilisation and efficiency, quality and output measurement, market linkages, and equity and access. Annexes provide detailed descriptions of the education situations and reforms already underway in the regions of Samara and Novgorod and data demonstrating the developments in Russia's transition to a market-based education service. Show less