International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Government of Alberta COUNTRY EDUCATION PROFILE The Former USSR and the Russian Federation 2 Prepared by: International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Contact Information: International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) 9th Floor, 108 Street Building, 9942 ­ 108 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 2J5 Phone: 1 (780) 427­2655 Fax: 1 (780) 422­9734 © 2007 the Crown in right of the Province of Alberta, International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................................................ 4 LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................................. 10 COUNTRY OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................... 11 HISTORICAL EDUCATION OVERVIEW........................................................................................ 17 EDUCATION IN THE FORMER USSR................................................................................................... 17 EDUCATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AFTER 1991 .................................................................... 20 SCHOOL EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................... 27 OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE FORMER USSR AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION .......... 27 PRE­SCHOOL EDUCATION ................................................................................................................. 32 Pre­School Education in the Former USSR.................................................................................. 32 Pre­School Education in the Russian Federation ......................................................................... 32 PRIMARY EDUCATION ....................................................................................................................... 33 Primary Education in the Former USSR ...................................................................................... 33 Primary Education in the Russian Federation.............................................................................. 34 LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION...................................................................................................... 37 Lower Secondary Education in the Former USSR........................................................................ 37 Lower Secondary Education in the Russian Federation ............................................................... 38 UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION ....................................................................................................... 39 Upper Secondary Education in the Former USSR........................................................................ 39 Upper Secondary Education in the Russian Federation................................................................ 41 BASIC CURRICULUM IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION .......................................................................... 43 EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ................................................................... 44 Profile Education.......................................................................................................................... 44 The Unified State Exam................................................................................................................ 45 HIGHER EDUCATION....................................................................................................................... 47 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE FORMER USSR..................................................................................... 47 Overview of Higher Education in the Former USSR .................................................................... 47 Administration.............................................................................................................................. 47 Types of Institutions ..................................................................................................................... 48 Admission to University­Level Higher Education ......................................................................... 50 Additional Admission Considerations ........................................................................................... 50 Forms of Education...................................................................................................................... 51 Academic Year.............................................................................................................................. 51 Language of Instruction ............................................................................................................... 51 Curriculum Standards .................................................................................................................. 51 Education Structure and Credentials............................................................................................ 52 Sample Programs.......................................................................................................................... 57 Grading System............................................................................................................................. 63 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.......................................................................... 64 Reforms in Higher Education....................................................................................................... 64 Administration.............................................................................................................................. 65 State Education Standard ............................................................................................................. 66 Quality Assurance/Accreditation .................................................................................................. 66 Accredited Institutions.................................................................................................................. 67 Types of Institutions of Higher Education.................................................................................... 67 Admission to University­Level Higher Education ......................................................................... 69 4 Unified State Examination (USE)................................................................................................. 69 Additional Admission Considerations ........................................................................................... 70 Forms of Education...................................................................................................................... 70 Academic Year.............................................................................................................................. 70 Language of Instruction ............................................................................................................... 71 State Final Examination............................................................................................................... 71 Curriculum Standards .................................................................................................................. 71 Education Structure and Credentials............................................................................................ 72 Sample Programs.......................................................................................................................... 81 Grading System............................................................................................................................. 85 TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL EDUCATION .................................................................................... 86 TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE FORMER USSR......................................................... 86 Overview of Technical/Vocational Education in the Former USSR.............................................. 86 Lower Vocational Education in the Former USSR ....................................................................... 87 Higher Vocational Education in the Former USSR...................................................................... 91 TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.............................................. 95 Overview of Technical/Vocational Education in the Russian Federation ..................................... 95 Lower Vocational Education in the Russian Federation............................................................... 96 Higher Vocational Education in the Russian Federation ........................................................... 101 TEACHER EDUCATION.................................................................................................................. 106 TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE FORMER USSR ................................................................................ 106 TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ..................................................................... 112 GRADING SCALE............................................................................................................................