Education in the USSR Research and Innovation
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 196 1241 Erv-013 146 AUTHOR Rosen, Seymour,M. TITLE Education in the U.S.S.R. Fesearch, andJnno"vation. INSTITUTION Office of Education (DHEW) ,Wa:shington,s`D.C. -FEPORT NO 0E-77-19130 PUB DATE 78 NOTD, 42p.: For related documents, see ED 109 929 and ED 128 255. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (Stock No. 017-080-01815-2, $1.50). EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Academically Gifted; *Educational Innovation; Educational Objectives: Educational Planning: Educational Policy; *Educational Research: Elementary -AsSecondary Education; Foreign Countries; General Education; National Programs; Postsecondary Education; Research and Development Centers: Schools of Education; Second Language Programs; Technical 'Institutes; Vocational Education IDENTIFIERS 'Academy of Pedagogical Sciences (USSR): Ministry Higher Secondary Specialized Ed (USSR) Ministry of Education (USSFj; Scientific Research Inst Prcbs Higher Sch (USSR); *USSR ABSTFACT Following an introductory description of the etructure, administration, and general character of the Soviet system of education, this document discusses the status of educational .\resear'ch and innovation in the USSR. The system of .research is \outlined, and the organization and areas of inguiry:of the major research institutions, including the .divisions cf. the Academy of Pedagogical Science and the ScierAific-ReSearch Institute on Problems' of the Higher School,-are reviewed. Recent educational innovations reported in the document include creating special schools for the gifted in science and mathematics, combining vocational and general education, adding management tc the official list or higher education _Lspecialties,. revising the-syllabus of preschool education, providing schoolS specializing in foreign language instruction, and organizing preparatory departments- for higher education. IPGD) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** . rJ HEW_Publication_No (OE) 77-19130 OF HEALTH. U S DEPARTMENT EDUCATION A WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION''' THIS DOCUMENT HASBEEN REPRO- AS RECEIVED FROM DUCED EXACTLY N. THE PER-SON ORORGANIZAT.ON^, ATiNO I F POINTS OF VIEWOP C _NS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILYA..% tE- INSTITUTE Or SENT OFF ICIAL NATIONAL AlAiication POLICY EDUCATION POSITION OR htthe,, U.S.S.R. Research and Innovation by Seymour M. Rosen Specialist- in COmparative Education for the_ U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe Office of Education U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Secretary Mary F. Berry, Assistant Secretary for Education Office of Education Ernest t. BoyOr, Commissioner Rohart Leestma, Associate Commissioner for Institutional Development and Internationil Education 4.1 rt, US: GOVERNMENT' PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1978 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock No.017-000-0181a Foreword This study is one of a series of Office of Education (OE) publica- tions on education in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The major focus is on recent developments and emerging trends in research and innovation in education. The study also includes a helpful summary of the organization and administration of the education -system.'" Along with two other recent Office of Education publications"Edu- cation in the U.S.S.R.: Recent Legislation and Statistics" (1975), by Seymour M. Rosen, and "Education in the U.S.S.R:: A Biblidgiaphy of English- Language Materials, 1965-1973" (1974), by Nellie Apa- nasewiczthis publication can serve as a valuable guide to several important aspects of conternpbrary Soviet education. In' addition to basic information and perspective on education'research and innovation in'the U.S.S.R.; it contains helpful references to other sources of information for those wishing to pursue further the various subjects covered. This report should thefe'fore- prove useful to a wide audience, from those desiring a brief basic orientation to education in the U.S.S.R. to scholars wishing to explore various aspects of Soviet education in greater depth, particularly those 'concerned with the study of educational.change in the Soviet Union. The author, Seymour M. Rosen, has been a specialist on Soviet edu- cation for the Office of Education since 1960., He has made six study trips to the U.S.S.R. since 1961 and is the author of several reports on education in the Soviet Union. Among his reports published by the Office of Education, in addition to the one mentioned previously, are "EduCation for Career Development in the U.S.S.R." in International/ Intercultural Educen Reports (1973), "The Development of People's Friendship University in Moscow" (1973), and "Soviet Programs International Education" ( 1971 ). - Robert Leestma Associate Commissioner for Institutional Developmept and International Education November 1977 Contents Page Foreword iii 1. Introduction: The Soviet System of Education 1 Structure and Administration 1 Primary-Secondary Education 3 Higher Education 4 2. Research 5 The National System of Ethication Research 5 The Academy of Pedagogical Sciences 7 The Scientific-Research Institute on Problems of the Higher School 11 Research in Higher Education Institutions 16 3. Innovation 20 Programs for the Gifted in Science and Mathematics 20 ;:lombinin'?of Vocational and General Education _-_______22_----- Management Training in Higher Education----- Other_ Innovations in Soviet Education 30 ------ 4. Summary and Conclusions 35 Selected References 37 5 1.h)roduction:The Soviet System of Education Education research in the -U.S.S.R. consists of the systematic Study and analysis of problems in pedagogy and related fields such as child development, educational psychology, and educational a4niniFtration. In Russian terminology, education research is referred to as "nauchno- pedagogicheskie issiedovanie," the "nauchno" prefix indicating the method of "scientific" study or investigation in the field of "tedagogi- cheskie iss*dovanie," or education research. Education innovation in the U.S.S.R. as discussed in this report con- sists of the application of new methods and programs in the schools. (Education innovation in out-of-school activities, such as those in Pio- neer Palaces and People's "Universities" of Culture, are not covered here.) In Soviet terminology, innovation (novatorstvo) is described in the "Great Soviet Encyclopedia" (Boeshaia Sovetskc;.2 entszklopediia, vol. 18, p. 42) as "intending an active utilization of theoretical and practical knowledge .: and providing material for the application of new theoretical knowledge, furthering the development of science, tech- \roalogy, and production." -\-; In the Soviet system, education research and innovationare under the policy guidelines of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union_arnd the- overall direction of one of the two national education ministries, .the --U:S-.S-.W.Ministry of Education or the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Higher and Secondary' Specialized Education, depending on the field and level of the research or the innovation. Both research and innovation are aimed at improving the general education, upbringing, and specialized train- ing of students within the framework of Communist ideology. This fir3t chapter, provides a brief overview of the educational frame- work in the U.S.S.R. and the terminology used hi describing it. It is intended to provide background knowledge and help clarify the balance of the report for readers unfamiliar with the Soviet.education system.' Structure and Administration Attendance is voluntary in preschool nurseries (for infants through age 2) and kindergartens (for children through age 6) . Compulsory A revised version of the overview in the author's previous study in this series, Education in the U.S.S.R.: Recent Legislation and Statistics. HEW/OE 75-19117. - Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975. 1 education begins at giade 1 and until 1977, included only the period throughgrade 8cfor children-7 1-6-1-5-7The system .did not include as compulsory, the next 2 years of "complete" seeondary education (3 years in the Baltic area). The new U.S.S.R. Constitution, published in October 1977, however, declares the right of youth to universal compulsory sec- onuary education as contrasted to the right an 8-year education specified in the previous constitution, as amended. Thus, although it does not use the term "complete" secondary education,. the Constitution evi- dently formalizes the extension of compulsory education from 8. years to 10 (or )years. Although a substantial majority students complete secondary gen- eral education, graduates of 7rade 8 may instead choose. to take voca- tional education. (See chart.) Higher education ranges in duration from 4 to .6. ),ears depending on the field of study. Tuition is free.for.edtication at all levels, and most students at technical and higher schools receive ,game form of stipend. The U.S.S.R. Ministry of Education -in Moscow and the subordinate ministries of education in each of the country's 15 constituent Republics supervise preschool, elementary, and general secondary education. The research arm of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Education is the U.S.S.R. Academy of Pedagogical Sciences and its 12 scientific research institutes. Each Republic Ministry