Problems of Inequality in Education and Differentiation of Schools Were Discussed in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation

Public hearings on the topic “Problems of schools with poor learning outcomes and schools functioning in adverse social conditions and how to overcome them” were held in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Inequality in education is always a highly discussed topic. Experts point out that considering the current environment it is necessary to pay more attention to the differentiation of schools: when near schools and lyceums with great ratings there are also schools, where students demonstrate low results.

Szymon Jankiewicz, Director of the Center for legal applied development of the Institute of Education, proposed administrative and legal measures for supporting educational institutions functioning in a complex social environment.

At the moment the Russian Federation’s legislation does not have a definition for “educational institutions functioning in a complex social environment”. But even if there was a definition it would not have solved the problem of supporting such institutions.

In this regard, it is important to develop criteria under which a school could obtain the status of an educational institutions functioning in a complex social environment. The establishment of these criteria falls within the competence of authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

As some measures to support the “weak” schools the authorities encourage to modify the procedure of determining the amount of money for municipal services in educational institutions working in a complex social environment.

It is necessary to come up with a multiplying factor, the amount of which will be established by the executive authorities of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation conducting government education output.

Beside that, one of the supporting instruments can be a subsidy for educational organizations working in a complex social environment. The money will be distributed on a competitive basis and they will go onto extra-curricular activities and improving the educational outcomes of students.

Budget allocation can be provided by the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and also by local authorities.

Read more on this topic on the website of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.