• The Russian Federation has provided free state education since its formation in 1991. The Ministry of Education and Science centrally regulates education, while regional authorities may regulate and control education within their competencies and the helpful framework of federal law.
• In recThe Russian Federation has shown significant progress in early childhood education rates in recent years. Enrolment of 3–5-year-olds has increased from 53% in 2005 to 83% in 2017, only slightly below the OECD average of 87% in 2017 (although there are still regional inequalities among enrolment rates). [i] 99% of children in early childhood education attend a public institution.
• It is also impressive that 95% of adults between 25 and 64 have completed upper secondary education, well above the OECD average of 79%. [ii]
• Broken Chalk is pleased to note that the share of people with tertiary education in the Russian Federation is among the highest among the OECD countries: 63% of 25–34-year-olds, compared to an OECD average of 44%.[iii] Moreover, in 2018, 63% of young adults aged 25-34 in the Russian Federation had completed tertiary education, the second highest rate after South Korea and significantly higher than the OECD average of 44%.[iv]
• Despite all the improvements, the country’s educational sector does show severe issues. Problems often relate to regional inequalities, socioeconomic inequalities, and discrimination based on ethnicity.
• The Russian Federation still spends one of the lowest amounts per student (USD 8 4791 in 2016) among the OECD countries: merely half the amount of the OECD average (USD 15 556).[v] Despite this, Russian students score 481 points in reading literacy, mathematics, and science, just below the OECD average of 488 issues in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). [vi]
• As the Russian Federation ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, the state must commit to carrying out its duties and obligations, including the insurance of free compulsory education and equal opportunity for all children. Broken Chalk urges the Russian Federation to address all issues which prevent the realisation of the rights set out in the Convention.

[i] OECD. “Education at a Glance: Russian Federation.” OECD. OECD, 2019. https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/EAG2019_CN_RUS.pdf. (Accessed 19 January 2023); 1, 3.

[ii] OECD. “OECD Better Life Index.” www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org. https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/russian-federation/. (Accessed January 12, 2023).

[iii] OECD. “Education at a Glance: Russian Federation.” OECD. OECD, 2019. https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/EAG2019_CN_RUS.pdf. (Accessed 19 January 2023); 1.

[iv] OECD. “Education at a Glance: Russian Federation.” OECD. OECD, 2019. https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/EAG2019_CN_RUS.pdf. (Accessed 19 January 2023); 2.

[v] OECD. “Education at a Glance: Russian Federation.” OECD. OECD, 2019. https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/EAG2019_CN_RUS.pdf. (Accessed 19 January 2023); 2.

[vi] OECD. “OECD Better Life Index.” www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org. https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/russian-federation/. (Accessed January 12, 2023). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337821304_Educational_Inequality_in_Israel_From_Research_to_Policy. (Accessed 19 September 2022); 14.