Education in Russia

Rusia/Agosto de 2017/Fuente: Relocate Global

Resumen: Las familias que viven en la Federación de Rusia deberán examinar cuidadosamente las opciones de educación disponibles para sus hijos. Con un gran número de escuelas internacionales y un sistema de educación que está creciendo en la reputación internacional, hay mucho para elegir. Desde el final del período soviético, el sistema de educación de Rusia ha ido de fuerza en fuerza, liderando la marcha mundial en la educación, aunque la inversión del gobierno en escuelas y educación ha aumentado en los últimos años, sin embargo, el porcentaje de gasto por estudiante sigue siendo inferior al promedio de la Organización de Cooperación y Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE) pero la situación está cambiando constantemente. La OCDE informa que Rusia es uno de los cuatro países BRICS con la mayor proporción de estudiantes que realizan «progresos notables» en el nivel de educación secundaria, por lo que su sistema educativo no debe descartarse de plano.

Families making a move to the Russian Federation will need to look carefully at the education and schooling options available to their children. With a large number of international schools and an education system that is growing in international reputation, there are plenty to choose from.Since the end of the Soviet period, Russia’s education system has been going from strength to strength, leading the global march in education attainment and boasting small class sizes.Although government investment in schools and education has grown in recent years, however, the percentage of expenditure per student remains lower than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, and literacy results lag significantly behind.But the situation is constantly changing. The OECD reports that Russia is one of four BRICS countries with the highest proportion of students making “notable progress” in secondary-education attainment, so its education system should not be dismissed out of hand.

How the education system works in Russia

Compulsory education in the Russian Federation starts at the age of seven. This is quite a lot later than in most other OECD countries. For example, children in England start primary school between the ages of four and five.After primary school, the Russian education system is broadly in line with the systems of other OECD countries. What is called ‘basic general’ education follows primary school at around the age of 11, and ‘secondary general’ (or vocational) education starts at about the age of 16.Younger children have the option of attending a state-funded kindergarten. But, says Moscow-based consultancy Intermark Relocation, a past winner of the Relocate award for Relocation Service Provider of the Year, admissions to state-run kindergartens are done through government committees, which are different for each Moscow district, and there is usually a waiting list, so the earlier families apply, the better.With younger children being so open to new experiences and able to learn new languages more quickly than adults, attending a local kindergarten can be a great way for them to integrate into their local community.“My two children have had a very happy time in the Russian nursery near to where we live,” says an Intermark Relocation client. “My youngest ‘graduates’ this summer, having spent four years in the nursery. They now eat all kinds of food, know how to dress for the cold Moscow winters, and are very polite to adults. Above all, they speak Russian without an accent.”Government investment in schools has increased significantly since 2000, but remains below the OECD average, both per student and as a share of gross domestic product. In 2015, however, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which looks at the educational performance of 15-year-olds in OECD countries, reported that Russian students achieved mean scores above the OECD average in both reading and mathematics, but fell slightly below the OECD average in science.Despite a rise in the average size of primary-school classes between 2005 and 2014, class sizes in the Russian Federation remain below the OECD average – 20 pupils per class in primary school (OECD average 21) and 19 per class in lower secondary school (OECD average 23).Also of note is that 54 per cent of those aged 25–64 in the Russian Federation hold a tertiary (post-secondary) degree – 19 percentage points more than the OECD average. At 11:1, the ratio of students to teachers at the tertiary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries. The OECD average is 17:1.

International schools

For those willing to immerse themselves in the Russian way of life, learn the language, and integrate into their local community, a state school is worth considering. For those on shorter assignments or with language restrictions, there are a healthy number of international schools to choose from.The country has 74 English-medium international schools, of which the majority (55) are based in Moscow. Most international schools teach in the English language and offer learning programmes ranging from the English National Curriculum to the American Programme and the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.The International School of Moscow (ISM), in the northwestern Krylatsky Hills area, teaches an English curriculum to students aged from two to 18. It offers a broad range of GCSE and A Level subjects, and has partnerships with all the major British examination boards.“At ISM, we pride ourselves on being truly international,” says headteacher Paul Keach. “Our students hail from over 50 nationalities. We celebrate this diversity, and take great pride in our community. International schools are often the hub of community life, especially amongst expatriate families.”Alongside the international schools in Moscow, there are a number of national schools run by the embassies, which cater for many nationalities, including French, Dutch and Japanese.

How schools can help you to settle in

Above all, relocating families need to feel confident about settling in to their new environment. “Many of our parents who relocate to Moscow are understandably concerned about adjustment and transition, not just to a new school, but to a new city,” says Paul Keach.“We understand these concerns, and work hard to ensure that parents feel welcome in our community by creating opportunities for them to meet one another, including events such as coffee mornings and parent representative meetings.Our students become familiar with Moscow as a vibrant and exciting place to live through school visits to its cultural centres, including art galleries, theatres and museums.”A final word from the children themselves, responding to questions from Intermark Relocation about their thoughts on their new life in Russia.“Moscow is a very culturally active city; there are many world-famous paintings in the galleries, performances from the renowned Russian ballet, and classical music and rock concerts. Bands like 30 Seconds to Mars and U2 have come here.“And if you’re not familiar with snow, you’ll like Moscow, because we get a lot of it!”

Fuente: https://www.relocatemagazine.com/articles/education-schools-international-guide-2017-education-in-russia