Journal Article
Reforming Russia's educational system

The Russian Federation inherited a fairly well-developed, mature educational system from the Soviet Union. Most school-age children had access to general education; literacy was almost universal. Transition exposed weaknesses in this system tailored to the needs of a centrally planned economy. Specifically, it had limited abilities to respond to the changing economic structures of a market economy. With a view to bringing greater efficiency and accountability, a large part of the education sector was decentralised under the 1992 Education Act. Under this law, responsibility for general education and school finance was entrusted to regional (oblast) and local (rayon) level authorities. This rapid decentralization attempt proved to be poorly designed. It lacked the commensurate transfer of resources and never spelled out the levels of government responsibility.