Education in Contemporary Russia: An Overview of National Policies and Rural Education

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One of President Eisenhower's cabinet members once suggested that, "As GM goes, so goes America." Well in Russia, the belief is, "As education goes, so goes mother Russia." This position might be questioned by some, but if Russia is to develop into a free democratic state then it must have a comprehensive means by which to transmit essential information to its citizens so that they might develop their various potentials, be they intellectual, moral, social, or otherwise. Here enters the realm of education.

Of course, the more immediate goals in Russia today seem to center around stopping the economic decline and establishing some degree of social stability, but also deemed to be a strong priority, even now amid great economic turmoil, is the need to educate each individual so that s/he can cope in today's world, and be prepared to enter the 21st century. Educating people to be free, highly intellectual, and spiritually rich can only be obtained through the constant improvement of Russia's whole educational system, with the idea that as the system improves, so will its citizens.

In order to achieve these ends, which are all in …