education system in russia topic

• Society ›

Education & Science

Education in Russia - statistics & facts

General education in russia, higher education in russia, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Expected average length of education in Russia 2000-2021

Government spending on education as a GDP share in Russia 2010-2021

PISA ranking of Russia 2015-2018, by category

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Government spending on education in Russia 2022, by level

Number of higher education students in Russia 2010-2022

Educational Institutions & Market

Highest earning EdTech platforms in Russia 2023

Related topics

Recommended.

• Online education in Russia
• Education in Poland
• Education in Romania

Recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Education consumer spending in Europe 2020, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of universities worldwide in 2023, by country
• Premium Statistic Trust in teachers worldwide 2022, by country
• Basic Statistic PISA results in Russia 2006-2018, by category

Education consumer spending in Europe 2020, by country

Ranking of the total consumer spending on education in Europe by country 2020 (in million U.S. dollars)

Number of universities worldwide in 2023, by country

Estimated number of universities worldwide as of July 2023, by country

Trust in teachers worldwide 2022, by country

Trust in teachers as of 2022, by country

PISA results in Russia 2006-2018, by category

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results in Russia from 2006 to 2018, by category (in points)

Education spending

• Basic Statistic Government spending on education as a GDP share in Russia 2010-2021
• Basic Statistic Government spending on education in Russia 2022, by level
• Basic Statistic Public education spending per student in Russia 2022, by segment
• Basic Statistic Average consumer prices on education services in Russia 2022
• Premium Statistic Average university tuition in selected regions of Russia 2020
• Basic Statistic Estimated education costs in Russia 2020, by city

Share of government expenditure on education in gross domestic product (GDP) in Russia from 2010 to 2021

Government expenditure on education in Russia in 2022, by segment (in billion Russian rubles)

Public education spending per student in Russia 2022, by segment

Government expenditure on education per student in Russia in 2022, by stage (in 1,000 Russian rubles)

Average consumer prices on education services in Russia 2022

Average consumer prices on selected types of education services in Russia in 2022 (in Russian rubles)

Average university tuition in selected regions of Russia 2020

Average annual tuition fee at higher education institutions in Russia in 2020, by selected federal subject (in 1,000 Russian rubles)

Estimated education costs in Russia 2020, by city

Estimated cost of the entire educational cycle from early childhood to completion of higher education in Russia in 2020, by city (in million Russian rubles)

Preschool & general education

• Premium Statistic Children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2015-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of school students in Russia 2021, by educational stage
• Basic Statistic Number of school students in Russia 2015-2022, by type of area
• Basic Statistic Unified State Exam average score in Russia 2022, by subject

Children enrolled in preschool education in Russia 2015-2022

Number of children enrolled in preschool institutions in Russia from 2015 to 2022 (in millions)

Number of school students in Russia 2021, by educational stage

Number of students enrolled in general education institutions in Russia as of the beginning of school year 2021/2022, by stage (in 1,000s)

Number of school students in Russia 2015-2022, by type of area

Number of students in state (municipal) schools in Russia from school year 2015/2016 to 2022/2023, by type of area (in millions)

Unified State Exam average score in Russia 2022, by subject

Average score in the Unified State Exam achieved by high school graduates in Russia in 2022, by subject (in points)

Vocational & higher education

• Basic Statistic Professional education admission in Russia 2016-2020, by level
• Basic Statistic Vocational education student count in Russia 2016-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of higher education students in Russia 2010-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of university students in Russia 2014-2022, by degree
• Basic Statistic Number of university students in Russia 2022, by gender and age
• Premium Statistic Number of doctoral students in Russia 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic University admission share in Russia 2017-2020, by funding type
• Basic Statistic Leading Russian universities by QS ranking 2023

Professional education admission in Russia 2016-2020, by level

Admission to professional education institutions in Russia from 2016 to 2020, by type (in 1,000s)

Vocational education student count in Russia 2016-2021

Number of students enrolled in vocational education programs in Russia from school year 2016/2017 to 2021/2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of students enrolled in higher education in Russia from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of university students in Russia 2014-2022, by degree

Number of students enrolled in higher education institutions in Russia from academic year 2014/2015 to 2022/2023, by degree (in 1,000s)

Number of university students in Russia 2022, by gender and age

Number of higher education students in Russia in academic year 2022/2023, by age and gender

Number of doctoral students in Russia 2010-2021

Number of doctoral students in Russia from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

University admission share in Russia 2017-2020, by funding type

Distribution of admissions into higher education institutions in Russia from 2017 to 2020, by tuition funding type

Leading Russian universities by QS ranking 2023

Leading universities in Russia by rank in the QS World University Rankings 2023

International students

• Premium Statistic Top host destination of international students worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic International student share of higher-ed population worldwide in 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Field of study of international students worldwide 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Share of foreign university students in Russia 2021/2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Foreign doctoral student count in Russia 2014-2021
• Basic Statistic Best cities for studying abroad in Russia 2022

Top host destination of international students worldwide 2022

Top host destination of international students worldwide in 2022, by number of students

International student share of higher-ed population worldwide in 2022, by country

Countries with the largest amount of international students as a share of the total higher education population in 2022

Field of study of international students worldwide 2022, by country

Field of study of international students worldwide in 2022, by country

Share of foreign university students in Russia 2021/2022, by country

Share of international students enrolled in bachelor's, specialist's, and master's programs in higher education institutions in Russia in school year 2021/2022, by country of origin

Foreign doctoral student count in Russia 2014-2021

Number of foreign doctoral students in Russia from 2014 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Best cities for studying abroad in Russia 2022

Leading cities for studying abroad in Russia by score in the QS Best Student Cities ranking 2022 (in points)

Institutions & infrastructure

• Basic Statistic Capacity of preschool organizations in Russia 2015-2021
• Basic Statistic General education institution count in Russia 2014-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of village schools in Russia 2010-2022, by ownership
• Premium Statistic University count in selected regions of Russia 2020

Capacity of preschool organizations in Russia 2015-2021

Number of places at preschool education, supervision, and childcare institutions per 1,000 children aged 1-6 years in Russia from 2015 to 2021

General education institution count in Russia 2014-2022

Number of primary, basic general, and general secondary education institutions in Russia from school year 2014/2015 to 2022/2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of village schools in Russia 2010-2022, by ownership

Number of state (municipal) and private schools in rural areas in Russia from school year 2010/2011 to 2022/2023

University count in selected regions of Russia 2020

Number of higher education institutions in Russia in 2020, by selected federal subject

Teaching personnel

• Basic Statistic Number of teachers in Russia 2022, by educational stage
• Basic Statistic School teacher count in Russia 2022, by specialization
• Basic Statistic University employee age distribution in Russia 2022, by position
• Basic Statistic Monthly salary of teachers in Russia 2022, by education segment

Number of teachers in Russia 2022, by educational stage

Number of teaching personnel in education system in Russia in 2022, by segment (n 1,000s)

School teacher count in Russia 2022, by specialization

Number of school teachers in schools in Russia in school year 2022/2023, by specialization

University employee age distribution in Russia 2022, by position

Distribution of higher education employees in Russia in school year 2022/2023, by age group and position

Monthly salary of teachers in Russia 2022, by education segment

Average monthly salary of teaching personnel in Russia in 2022, by educational stage (In Russian rubles)

• Premium Statistic B2C online education market size in Russia 2019-2023
• Basic Statistic Online education market value in Russia 2021, by stage
• Premium Statistic Online education market share in Russia 2021, by segment
• Premium Statistic Highest earning EdTech platforms in Russia 2023

B2C online education market size in Russia 2019-2023

Market volume of B2C online education in Russia from 2019 with a forecast until 2023 (in billion Russian rubles)

Online education market value in Russia 2021, by stage

Estimated revenue of online education in Russia in 2021, by stage (in billion Russian rubles)

Online education market share in Russia 2021, by segment

Estimated share of online in the education market revenue in Russia in 2021, by segment

Leading EdTech platforms in Russia in 3rd quarter 2023, by revenue (in billion Russian rubles)

Public opinion

• Basic Statistic Public assessment of education system in Russia 2021
• Basic Statistic Attitude toward the Unified State Exam in Russia 2009-2023
• Basic Statistic Most popular university major choices in Russia 2020, by gender
• Basic Statistic Factors influencing university major choice in Russia 2020/2021
• Basic Statistic Factors affecting university choice in Russia 2020/2021

Public assessment of education system in Russia 2021

How would you assess the state of our education system?

Attitude toward the Unified State Exam in Russia 2009-2023

What is your opinion on the modern schoolchildren's certification system, the Unified State Exam?

Most popular university major choices in Russia 2020, by gender

Leading fields of study at the university preferred by high school graduates in Russia 2020, by gender

Factors influencing university major choice in Russia 2020/2021

Factors considered by students when choosing a university major in Russia in the academic year 2020/2021

Factors affecting university choice in Russia 2020/2021

Main factors taken into account by students when selecting a university in Russia in the academic year 2020/2021

Further reports Get the best reports to understand your industry

Get the best reports to understand your industry.

• Education in Europe
• Education in Germany
• Education worldwide

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

READ – Russia’s Initiative to Improve Learning Outcomes is More Relevant than Ever

Russia has regularly demonstrated strong results in international assessments of education, including the most recent OECD PISA tests , thanks to concerted efforts to support better teaching and learning outcomes among the population.

But Russia has also played an important role in helping boost education results globally.

In 2008, the Russian Federation initiated the Russia Education Aid for Development (READ) program , one of the first partnerships between the country and the World Bank, with a view to helping improve learning outcomes around the world through better measurement of student learning.

A decade later, the READ program is more relevant than ever. Many countries around the world continue to face a learning crisis – whereby hundreds of millions of children each year reach young adulthood without even the most basic skills. These young people are thus not equipped with the skills needed to succeed in increasingly competitive, technology-driven, and evolving labor markets. The long-term consequences for individuals and society are significant.

As such, the READ program has three main goals, associated with its three subprograms: 1) provide support on student assessment to developing countries, through the READ Trust Fund , 2) develop the capacity of Russia as an emerging donor in education, through the READ Reimbursable Advisory Service , and 3) facilitate Russia’s international development in education, through the Center for International Cooperation in Education Development .

To learn more about how READ is helping improve student learning, experts from Russia and countries around the world gathered in Moscow on 5-6 November 2019 to attend a conference titled Ten Years of Russia Education Aid for Development (READ): Impacts on Russia and the World .

Conference participants heard how fifteen countries across four regions – Europe & Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Africa – have to date received targeted support from READ to improve their student assessment systems. With this support, nearly twenty assessment tools have been created, or revised. In Mozambique, for example, an assessment of early grade reading ( Provinha ) has been developed and administered across the country.

Nine new assessment-related policies have been developed, or adopted. Ethiopia, for example, has introduced a new school inspection framework and designation of budget lines for key assessment activities.

Over 40,000 policymakers, teachers, and practitioners around the world have been trained in key areas of student assessment. For instance, six country delegations were invited to Russia to study the country’s experience in establishing graduate degrees in student assessment – this subsequently led to formalized partnerships between universities in these countries and in Russia.

Currently, Russian experts are helping peers in Uzbekistan to prepare for the country’s first participation in an international assessment, PISA 2021. Similarly, experts in India recently agreed to pursue a peer learning arrangement with Russia, ahead of the same important assessment.

Through the READ program, several learning assessment resources have been made freely available to the public, designed mostly for teachers, policymakers, and assessment practitioners around the world. SABER-Student Assessment tools, for example, have been used to evaluate student assessment systems in over 60 countries. National Assessments of Educational Achievement publications have been translated into six languages to support the development of national assessment systems.

The Student Assessment for Policymakers and Practitioners eLearning , developed with support from the READ Trust Fund, is also a useful resource for learning about student assessment. More recently, the Public Examinations Examined publication – which looks at current issues related to high-stakes examinations – was launched at the READ conference in Moscow.

It is estimated that nearly 300 million children worldwide have benefitted from better education thanks to improved learning assessments supported by the READ program.

But, despite the progress achieved over the last ten years, many countries around the world still lack timely and accurate information on levels of student learning, which leads to poor education outcomes that limit people’s future opportunities for employment and earnings.

The READ program can help address these challenges by extending much-needed support to developing countries to enhance learning assessment.

• Russia Education Aid for Development (READ) Trust Fund
• Student Assessment for Policymakers and Practitioners
• World Bank – Education
• World Bank in Russia

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

The Education System in the Russian Federation: Education Brief 2012

2012, Research Papers in Economics

Related Papers

Harley Balzer

There are few more stunning changes in global affairs than the rapid decline in Russia's standing in education, science and technology. Some of the challenges to the higher education system are common to all nations in an increasingly competitive global environment. In this competition, Russian myths about the quality of the Soviet achievement along with stifling bureaucracy and corruption are undermining the effect of increased funding. Russia also faces demographic and social challenges that make it difficult to ...

Historia i Polityka

Dagmara Moskwa

The presented paper discusses the changes in the Russian education system that took place in the years 2013–2016, during the presidency of Vladimir Putin. The analysis encompasses all dimensions of changes in the education system: personnel changes (replacement of Dmitri Livanov by Olga Vasil’eva in the position of the RF Minister of Education and Science), formal ones (development of the new: Concept of a new educational – methodological complex for teaching national history), institutional (reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and finally also qualitative changes (introduction of new history textbooks). The article attempts to show that the above changes are in fact manifestations of tightening state control over education and its treatment as a vehicle to create the historical policy of the Russian Federation.

Dmitry Chugunov

ELISABETH SERVELLO

A cautionary tale of how persistent political interference in a nation's educational system, erodes trust, stability, funding and university of access. Russia, a very literate nation, whose fundamental educational system is in crisis in the contemporary world it finds itself.

Maria Smirnova

Olga Glagoleva

Ben Eklof, Larry E. Holmes and Vera Kaplan, eds. Educational Reform in Post-Soviet Russia: Legacies and Prospects. The Cummings Center Series. London and New York: Frank Cass, 2005. xvi, 350 pp. Appendixes. Glossary. Index.Where will Russia be in ten, twenty years? Will democracy succeed? Answers to these questions depend on the ability of Russian education to bring up a generation of civic-minded citizens who respect democratic values and human rights. To carry out such a monumental task, however, the educational system has first to change itself, depart from Soviet authoritarian approaches and indoctrination, and embrace new pedagogical ideas and technologies. Society's urgent need for educational reform made Boris Yeltsin proclaim education a top state priority in his Decree No. I. The book under review is a collective effort to detect the trends resulting from that historic decree. It seeks "to measure the progress of change" (p. 2) and identify the areas in transi...

Alexander Asmolov

The stock theme of this work is the development of conceptualization of a mission and nature of education as a leading social activity participating in generation of such systematic social and mental effects of the public life as formation of civil, ethno-cultural, and panhuman identity; the dynamics of social differentiation and stratification of the society; adoption of various traditions, values, norms, and behavioral components of attitude for large and minor social groups; acquisition of a repertoire of personal, social, and professional competencies supporting individualization, socialization, and professionalization of a person within the system of individuals and professions; and development of human potential as the most important condition of national competitive performance.

Learning Environments and Learning Achievement in the Russian Federation: How School Infrastructure and Climate Affect Student Success

Russian Education & Society

Olga Kislitsyna

Patty A. Gray

Russia, like other (re)emerging donors, has a long history of development intervention, including in education. The period of “transition” following the dissolution of the Soviet Union opened up a space for Russia itself to be “developed”, with the ultimate stage being the development of Russia’s own capacity as a development donor. Given the intensity with which Russia has been recruited to a DAC-style model of development donorship, it is interesting to note the absence of the field of development studies in Russia. Although part of the effort to develop Russia’s donor capacity has included developing curriculum materials for postgraduate programmes in the field of aid and international development, the Russian government has not yet formalized a development studies curriculum. Yet this begs the question: What is the relationship, in general, between the field of development studies and development itself? In the absence of the professionalization of development work in Russia, how were Russians prepared to do development work, and how will those in the future be prepared? Does the professionalization of development move it out of the government sphere, creating a separation between the strategic/diplomatic side of development policy and the practical/vocational side of development work? By refusing to support a professional development studies curriculum, is the Russian government resisting the possibility that non-governmental personnel have a role to play in international development?

RELATED PAPERS

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

Laila Al Yazidi

Ryan Ribeiro de Azevedo

AIAA Journal

Romesh Batra

Diana Carrió-Invernizzi

Mehmet Günal

IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery

Araceli Hernandez

Sandra Filipe

Carla Perdiz

Development

Ilya Skovorodkin

Transportation Geotechnics

Lil Manijas

Hydrological Processes

Anneli Ågren

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo

Ahmed yahaya

Comprehensive Psychiatry

wan salwina wan ismail

Jane Grasby

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

Macarena gonzalez

irma winingsih

DOCENCIA Y DERECHO

Javier Pagador López

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Alex Simonian

Annals of Oncology

Emily Christison-Lagay

Oxford University Press eBooks

Steven Sadhra

Journal of Lipid Research

Mohsen Khademi

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Publication: The Education System in the Russian Federation : Education Brief 2012

Original bundle.

License bundle

Collections.

The Educated Russian’s Curse? Returns to Education in the Russian Federation since the 1990s

Harry a. patrinos, suhas parandekar.

Wisdom.. comes not from age but from education and learning - Anton Chekov

Because of a strong literary tradition and a deep commitment to education, Russia had a highly educated population by the end of the 20th century. Today, nearly two-thirds of 25 to 34 year olds have completed post-secondary studies , along with just over half of 55 to 64-year-olds, well above the OECD averages. In terms of learning achievement, the picture is a bit less flattering. Russia’s 4th grade students are ranked highest in the world on reading scores , but by the 8th or 9th grade, Russia is ranked about the same as the OECD average and lower when collaborative problem-solving skills are taken into account. Nevertheless, Russia can still be regarded as one of the most educated nations in the world.

Higher education levels usually translate into higher productivity and higher earnings. However, Sofia Cheidvasser and Hugo Benítez-Silva found very low returns to education in Russia in the 1990s , only about 5 percent ( compared to the global average of 9 percent ), even at a time when the market in Russia was opening up . If an education added such little value in terms of wages at that time, they posited that this might have given educated Russians a reason to emigrate.

The World Bank 2019 report How Wealthy Is Russia? found that human capital accounts for only 46 percent of Russia’s total wealth compared with an OECD average of 70 percent. Average per capita human capital wealth in 2014 was about US$500,000 for the OECD, five times higher than in Russia. Although per capita wealth was growing 10 times faster in Russia than in the OECD, the gap in the relative levels of wealth was still very wide.

Were there really very low returns to education in post-Soviet Russia?

In our new working paper, Returns to Education in the Russian Federation: Some New Estimates , with Ekaterina Melianova and Artëm Volgin, we examined returns to education in the Russian Federation between 1994 and 2018 using data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS). We found that: 

• Average years of schooling increased from 12.4 to 13.3 years, and the proportion of the labor force with a higher education increased from 26 to 41 percent. 
• Returns to schooling increased from 7 percent in 1994 to 9.1 percent in 2001. However, returns averaged only 6.3 percent between 2008 and 2018, which was among the lowest worldwide, and by 2018, they had fallen to 5.4 percent.
• Returns to higher education peaked at 18 percent in 1998, but by 2018 they had settled at 8 percent , which is just below the European Union average of 10 percent and well below the global average of 15 percent . However, these returns were three times higher than for vocational education (2 percent). 
• Returns to education for females were much higher than for males during the first few years of the new century, averaging above 10 percent. While they subsequently declined,  they are still significantly higher than those for men.

The returns peaked in the early 2000s (at almost 10 percent) followed by a downward pattern (returns of 5.6 percent by 2018). The returns to schooling in Russia are now much lower than the global average. On average, an additional year of education yields only a small – and declining – increase in wages. More than one-third of the labor force possesses a post-secondary qualification. The extent to which the declines are due to potential “over-education” is worth investigating. In this regard, higher education may have reached an expansion limit causing a decline in educational premiums . But private returns to education are three times greater for higher education compared to vocational education. It could be that vocational schooling is reducing the overall return to schooling. Thus, there is a need to investigate the labor market relevance of vocational education. Female education continues to benefit from being a government priority. Future research could also look at the variations in returns across regions. Also, recent school closures and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will reduce the earnings of all current students once they reach the labor market , though higher education graduates can be expected to suffer the least . Because of these declining returns, it may be necessary to explore ways to increase the productivity of schooling at all levels.

• Russian Federation
• Europe and Central Asia

Senior Adviser, Education

Senior Economist

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

Modernization of Higher Education in Russia: New Challenges and Approaches

• Conference paper
• First Online: 15 March 2021
• Cite this conference paper

• Irina Zhdankina   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0976-5427 15 ,
• Natalia Ignatieva   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7803-716X 15 ,
• Darya Bykova   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1956-4677 15 &
• Yulia Sysoeva   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3757-9648 15  

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1352))

Included in the following conference series:

• International Conference on Advances in Digital Science

733 Accesses

1 Citations

From the beginning of the 21st century the Russian education system is in the process of transformation. Higher education has undergone the greatest changes within the framework of Russia’s integration into the Bologna process. Nowadays, priority projects are being realized to increase the openness, accessibility and competitiveness of Russian higher education at the local and international levels. Nevertheless, there is a period of stagnation of modernization caused by the instability of progressive development and the progress of reforms. According to the authors’ opinion, this situation is caused by a significant lag in the level of educational activities of universities. The article analyzes the rating presence of Russian educational institutions, analyzes the introduction of modern trends that exist in the global educational space. The authors draw conclusions about the discrepancy between educational activities in Russian universities of modern educational standards, which do not have a synergistic effect that would allow universities to reach a new level in the realization of programs and competitiveness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

PASSPORT of priority project Development of the export potential of the Russian education system approved 30 May 2017. https://static.government.ru/media/files/DkOXerfvAnLv0vFKJ59ZeqTC7ycla5HV.pdf

National project Education till 2024. https://edu.gov.ru/national-project

Academic ranking of worldwide universities. https://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html

QS World University Ranking. https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2019

The World University Rankings. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats

Informational and analytical materials on the results of monitoring. https://indicators.miccedu.ru/monitoring/2019/index.php?m=vpo

Ardashkin, I.B., Surovtsev, V.A.: SMART-education as a new educational paradigm: proetcontra. Bull. Tomsk State Univ. Philos. Sociol. Politol. 54 , 51–61 (2020)

Google Scholar  

Lomakina, G.R.: Competence approach as pragmatic oriented approach to results of higher education. Theory Pract. Soc. Dev. 12 , 217˗220 (2012)

Todorescu, L., Greculescu, A., Dragomir, G.M.: The Bologna process. Academic mobility in Romanian technical higher education. Proc. Soc. Behav. Sci. 47 , 2229˗2233 (2012)

Bolatbaeva, Z.T.: Competence approach in the sphere of higher professional education. Sci. World. 2 (6), 37˗38 (2014). https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_21671446_53222634.pdf

Barul, H.K.: Revolutionizing Modern Education through meaningful E-learning implementation. IGI Global, USA (2016). https://books.google.ru/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ClWiDAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=modern+education&ots=srABoq78OG&sig=HhIuSdiv0fGoU-k42EQ1k0A7t1M&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=modern%20education&f=false

Nancy, W., Parimala, A., Merlin, M., Livingston, L.: Advanced teaching pedagogy as innovative approach in modern education system. Proc. Comput. Sci. 172 , 382˗388 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.05.059

Order № 813 on approval of the Federal state educational standard for higher education – Bachelor Degree in the field of study 35.04.06 “Agro engineering”, 23 August 2017. http://www.edu.ru/file/docs/2017/08/m813.pdf#page=3

Order № 709 on approval of the Federal state educational standard for higher education – Master Degree in the field of study 35.04.06 “Agro engineering”, 26 July 2017 http://www.edu.ru/file/docs/2017/07/m709.pdf#page=3

Bondarenko, N.V., Gokhberg, L.M., Kovaleva N.V.: Education in numbers: 2019: brief statistical book. National scientific university Higher School of Economics, Moscow (2019). https://www.hse.ru/data/2019/08/12/1483728373/oc2019.PDF

Ignatieva, N., Zhdankina, I., Bykova, D., Sysoeva, Yu.: Using smart technologies at the classes of foreign languages at a non-linguistic university. In: Antipova, T. (ed.) Integrated Science in Digital Age 2020. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 136, Springer, Switzerland (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49264-9_21

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Nizhny Novgorod State Engineering and Economic University, Knyaginino, 606340, Russia

Irina Zhdankina, Natalia Ignatieva, Darya Bykova & Yulia Sysoeva

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irina Zhdankina .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Institute of Certified Specialists (ICS), Perm, Russia

Tatiana Antipova

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Cite this paper.

Zhdankina, I., Ignatieva, N., Bykova, D., Sysoeva, Y. (2021). Modernization of Higher Education in Russia: New Challenges and Approaches. In: Antipova, T. (eds) Advances in Digital Science. ICADS 2021. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1352. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71782-7_11

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71782-7_11

Published : 15 March 2021

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-030-71781-0

Online ISBN : 978-3-030-71782-7

eBook Packages : Intelligent Technologies and Robotics Intelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)

Share this paper

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

What is education in Russia like? A U.S. teacher investigates

A truck arrives at your house. A couple you’ve never met before open the back and begin unloading stacks of broken wood, cracked tiles, dried out plaster, bent nails, stripped screws, used electrical wiring, dented sheets of metal, and a hammer made of hopes and dreams. They say, “Build us a house!”

You do your best. For years, you continue in this Kafkaesque nightmare, more people come with more supplies. You fight fires and floods and you build house after house after house. No one thanks you and most of what you build is shipped away unfinished into the scrapyard of life.

This is what it’s like to be a teacher. Except that, lest we forget, you’re also in a grotesque fairy-tale where planks of wood and strips of sheet-metal have mouths that often bite and sometimes tell you to fuck yourself.

If that seems dreary, try to remember what it felt like to be a pile of stripped screws, bent nails, and scrapped lumber.

‘Sometimes they throw puberty at you’

I’ve taught many Russian students over the years, both in and out of a classroom. In this time, I’ve learned one thing: they are just like students all over the world: they are intelligent and funny and hardworking and yes, sometimes they throw puberty at you.

When I reached out to Russians to discuss their education, I found a genuine concern and a great deal of passion. I expected anecdotes, petty complaints, and conflicting ideologies. What I received was a series of very consistent constructive ideas on where the Russian education system has gone wrong that are well worth ruminating over:

Curriculums are focused more on math and science than on humanities

Despite having one of the highest literacy rates in the world, (~100% compared to the U.S. ~86%) Some of the Russians I spoke to criticize their education system for not focusing enough on humanities:

“About the education system itself I think we have more deep learning in exact sciences (physics, biology, and chemistry are separated) so it explains why there are a lot of Russian hackers and mathematicians.” – Zoe, current high school student in Russia.

“Humanities in general are considered to be the despicable fate of those who are incompetent of doing math and physics. Thus, the technical subjects would be superior, while humanities would serve as leftovers.” – Ulia, graduated from high school in 2015.

However, not everyone agrees. One highschool biology teacher has found that students are much more likely to excel in history over math and science:

“Most students do not know biology, chemistry, or physics very well. I am preparing some of them for exams, so I know firsthand. Meanwhile, judging by my experiences with Russian students, they're better in history. It's hard to say on what Russian schools focus. School in the USSR were good in math and geography, but now there are too many old teachers who have problems with computers and the internet. On the other hand, there are some really good schools in cities.” – Evgeny, highschool biology teacher in Russia.

There’s a lack of critical thinking and personal expression:

When I was in high school critical thinking was lauded as an essential aspect of education. I was taught to think and be critical of everything; except my teachers, the textbook, my homework, the school, my parents, the principal – it was most important to be critical of authority that was very far away, or dead.

“Compared with my experience with American universities (I know some people who teach students) — on subjects like social studies, history, etc. we almost never wrote papers that were aimed at expressing our thinking, and Americans do it all the time. We were, like, “This scholar wrote that…,” and here you effectively summarize their opus magnum, or “There are two approaches to this problem: first, …, and as opposed to this, there’s another view...” Very rarely it was required that a student actually expresses their own stance and argue it.” – Nadja, studied in Russia in the early 2000s.

READ MORE: What were Russian kids in the 20th century told about sex?

“Russian education does not seem to facilitate personal or professional development of a child, but rather holds an ambition of bluntly transitioning the facts written in a Soviet textbook into a student’s head…The complete absence of critical thinking is probably the most obvious problem in Russian schools. We are taught what to think, not how to think, which is exactly the opposite of what education should be about.” – Ulia, graduated from high school in 2015.

“Trying to teach you how to think critically is a rare thing, even if a teacher is a young enlightened person, he/she cannot do anything with that due to the staff and curriculum. Trying to make some real sense is a straight path to being fired. So, yeah, the educational system is outdated, it doesn't do its work as it did in the USSR, times have changed.” – Denis, taught biology to Russian students in Grades 5 and 9.

There’s a lack of choice for Russian students to explore new subjects

“In Russian high school you generally can’t pick subjects and make up your own schedule. You have a fixed schedule, with different subjects every day, you have a paper school diary where you write that schedule and write down your homework assignments… In the U.S., I could pick any subjects that I like, as long as combined they give you at least the minimum amount of credit required to pass the term. I liked this approach: I picked AP calculus and AP physics because I liked math, and I didn’t have to torture through chemistry or biology or art or any other subject I find excruciatingly boring.” – Ilya, studied in USA and Russia.

“In my time, Russian school education had little to no subjects by choice, and you had to complete bare minimum courses in math, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and other stuff that you may or may not need. That seems like a waste of time and effort for vertical education evangelists, but actually this basis provides you a better catch-all foundation for broad horizons, system thinking and teaches you to see connections between things.” – Nadja, studied in Russia in the early 2000s.

What are teachers like in Russia?

“The last but not the least – the attitude. The teacher is always right. They can easily call a student an idiot, an imbecile, an incompetent nobody – that is common practice. The children are shown that they can be treated like shit by the more powerful others and do nothing about it. Of course, there are great teachers with true love for education and children, but they are more likely to be an exception rather than the norm. Education is our past, present, and most importantly, our future. It demands a drastic transition.” – Ulia, graduated from high school in 2015.

“Well, it's more about respect as you said, not discipline. Quite often teachers (usually ones from the Soviet era) are really conservative like Putin is the only true leader, women have to care more about the family than the career and stuff, and it’s hard to find the line between respectful disagreement and being a moron.” – Zoe, current highschool student in Russia.

“If we talk about the learning process itself, then in the West the teacher tries to be a friend and person, then in the Russian school teachers are often fenced off from students by the severity and the need to complete tasks.” – Nika, University Student Studying Technology.

Many teachers are underpaid and unmotivated

One of the other most consistent comments I received rings true all over the world: if we continue to pay teachers below-par salaries, future generations will suffer.

“But, the one big ‘but,’ is the salary. Teachers, such important people in people’s lives, still get low salaries. It's just barely possible to stay positive and spread joy in such conditions for a long time, you know. You just must be created for that to carry on like this long-term.” – Denis, taught biology to Russian students in Grades 5 and 9.

“Teaching is not a well-paid job in Russia, so people who really want to earn money don't work in education. Which means those who stay in education, whether they really like it or just want to torture other people. Unfortunately, those who like teaching can't last long at schools or universities and they leave the field, disappointed.” – Daria, graduated high-school in 2007.

READ MORE: Which Russian universities produce the most billionaires?

It fascinates me that policy makers allocate funds to make schools more high-tech without understanding a simple truth about education: a great teacher can impart far more with a stick and a pile of sand than a bad teacher with all of the iPads in the world.

I’m one of those foolish people who believe that education is the key to solving the world’s problems, but this means money needs to be better spent.

In America, we have a yearly budget for education that amounts to $68 billion. In Russia, the yearly budget for education is $10 billion. If we stack these numbers up against American and Russian military budgets, we get a good idea of our countries’ priorities: Russia: $69 Billion. America: $600 billion.

So, here is my wild idea:

Why doesn’t the world spend some of the money it uses to kill each other to compensate compassionate, well-educated teachers who are the only ones who stand a chance at raising a new generation of people who might not want to kill each other as much. Perhaps this would grant the world more parents who admire teachers, rather than think they know better; students who are eager to attend classes and learn, rather than wallow in boredom and resentment; and policy makers who understand the value of a mentor and guide in education, rather than our medley of politicians with their thumbs up their asses.

But what do I know, I graduated from public school.

Benjamin Davis , an American writer living in Russia, explores various topics, from the pointless to the profound, through conversations with Russians. Last time he explored what Russians think of guns . If you have something to say or want Benjamin to explore a particular topic, write us in a comment section below or write us on   Facebook .

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

• Russian feminists fight not only for their rights but also for the right words
• ‘F*ck the weather’: This is why there’s no small talk in Russia
• Before and after: How the Russian army changes soldiers (PHOTOS)

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here .

• News/Events
• Related Organizations
• List of Recognized HEIs
• Mobility projects/initiatives

Education system of the Russian Federation

According to the Federal Law № 273 «On Education in the Russian Federation», the education system consists of the following levels:

General education  consists of four levels:

Pre-school education is provided by licensed institutions for children up to age 6 – 7 years, that is, before they enter formal school.  

Primary general education comprises grades 1-4, from the age of 7 to 10 years.  Lower secondary education takes 5 years and comprises grades 5–9, from the age of 11 to 15 years. Upper secondary education takes two years (grades 10–11). Students complete secondary education at the age of 17-18 years.

All four levels of general education are provided on the basis of their own state standards. Secondary general education with 11 years of formal schooling is compulsory. On completion of upper secondary education (grade 11) a school leaving certificate is awarded. The name of this qualification is the Certificate of Secondary General Education ( Attestat o srednem obshchem obrazovanii ).

The general secondary school study programme culminates with mandatory state final attestation of each graduate in the Russian language and mathematics, which is an obligatory part of the USE. Graduates who have successfully passed the Unified State Examination – USE in Russian language and mathematics are issued Certificates of Secondary General Education. 

Technical and vocational education   (srednee professionalnoe obrazovanie) offers training programmes of two stages: 

• first stage programmes: for skilled workers, junior technicians, and employees;
• second stage programmes: for mid-career professionals.

Graduates of technical and vocational education programmes are awarded Diplomas.  Education institutions of the second stage vocational education are generally known as Tekhnikums and Colleges. College can be an independent educational institution or a constituent part of HEI. It offers professional education programmes of  basic  and  advanced  types. As a rule, these programmes are well coordinated with university-level programmes in the same field of study.

Higher education

There is a multilevel system of training of specialists with higher education in Russia and the following levels of higher education are set:

Bachelor degree  

(240 credit units) is conferred after a four-year course of study.  Bachelor  programmes cover a wide range of fields of study. The function of  Bachelor  degree is to provide a more academically rather than professionally oriented education.  Bachelor  degree is a prerequisite for admission to Magister studies. State final attestation includes the defense of a thesis prepared over a period of four months and State final examinations. Following a successful attestation, a state Diploma is issued attesting conferral of  Bachelor  degree. 

The qualification of  Specialist Diploma  (300-360 credit units) has two functions. It opens access to professional practice (e.g., to engineers, teachers, chemists, etc.), and it is also the traditional prerequisite for admission to doctoral studies likewise master’s degree. The qualification of Specialist Diploma is conferred after studies lasting not less than five years. The diploma is awarded predominantly in technical fields of study (specialties). The State final attestation for a Specialist Diploma covers the defense of a project or a thesis and State final examinations. 

Master programme  

(120 credit units) is a two-year course focused more on research activities in comparison with the Specialist programme (up to 50% of student’s workload). But above all, this is a profound analytical and practical training of professionals in a particular field of study and practice. State educational standard defines only general requirements for Master educational programmes and not the requirements regarding the content of education. HEIs are free to make their own decisions regarding the contents of Master programmes. The State final attestation for a Master degree covers the defense of a dissertation and State final examinations. Access to Master’s studies is open for holders of Bachelor   degree. HEIs themselves set up admission procedures (examinations, interviews, etc.) for applicants. Those holders of HE degrees wishing to pursue Master programme in different field of study must pass additional tests which reflect the requirements for the chosen Master programme. 

Doctoral Programmes

The hierarchy of advanced scientific degrees in Russia traditionally includes Doctor’s degrees of two levels: Candidate of Sciences ( Kandidat Nauk ) and Doctor of Sciences ( Doktor Nauk ). The Candidate of Sciences degree normally requires three years of study after the award of Specialist or Master degrees. The Doctor of Sciences degree can be earned after a period of further study following the award of the Candidate of Sciences degree. In reality, earning a Doctor of Sciences degree requires five to fifteen years beyond the award of the Candidate of Sciences degree.

• News & Insights
• Education System
• Grading System
• Credentials
• Universities

Primary Education

Middle education, secondary education, vocational education, tertiary education.

Windows 11, version 23H2

April 9, 2024—kb5036893 (os builds 22621.3447 and 22631.3447).

• March 26, 2024—KB5035942 (OS Builds 22621.3374 and 22631.3374) Preview
• March 12, 2024—KB5035853 (OS Builds 22621.3296 and 22631.3296)
• February 29, 2024—KB5034848 (OS Builds 22621.3235 and 22631.3235) Preview
• February 13, 2024—KB5034765 (OS Builds 22621.3155 and 22631.3155)
• January 23, 2024—KB5034204 (OS Builds 22621.3085 and 22631.3085) Preview
• January 9, 2024—KB5034123 (OS Builds 22621.3007 and 22631.3007)
• December 12, 2023—KB5033375 (OS Builds 22621.2861 and 22631.2861)
• December 4, 2023—KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview
• November 14, 2023—KB5032190 (OS Builds 22621.2715 and 22631.2715)
• October 31, 2023—KB5031455 (OS Builds 22621.2506 and 22631.2506) Preview

Windows 11, version 22H2

• October 10, 2023—KB5031354 (OS Build 22621.2428)
• September 26, 2023—KB5030310 (OS Build 22621.2361) Preview
• September 12, 2023—KB5030219 (OS Build 22621.2283)
• August 22, 2023—KB5029351 (OS Build 22621.2215) Preview
• August 8, 2023—KB5029263 (OS Build 22621.2134)
• July 26, 2023—KB5028254 (OS Build 22621.2070) Preview
• July 11, 2023—KB5028185 (OS Build 22621.1992)
• June 27, 2023—KB5027303 (OS Build 22621.1928) Preview
• June 13, 2023—KB5027231 (OS Build 22621.1848)
• May 24, 2023—KB5026446 (OS Build 22621.1778) Preview
• May 9, 2023—KB5026372 (OS Build 22621.1702)
• April 25, 2023—KB5025305 (OS Build 22621.1635) Preview
• April 11, 2023—KB5025239 (OS Build 22621.1555)
• March 28, 2023—KB5023778 (OS Build 22621.1485) Preview
• March 14, 2023—KB5023706 (OS Build 22621.1413)
• February 28, 2023—KB5022913 (OS Build 22621.1344) Preview
• February 14, 2023—KB5022845 (OS Build 22621.1265)
• January 26, 2023—KB5022360 (OS Build 22621.1194) Preview
• January 10, 2023—KB5022303 (OS Build 22621.1105)
• December 13, 2022—KB5021255 (OS Build 22621.963)
• November 29, 2022—KB5020044 (OS Build 22621.900) Preview
• November 8, 2022—KB5019980 (OS Build 22621.819)
• October 25, 2022—KB5018496 (OS Build 22621.755) Preview
• October 18, 2022—KB5019509 (OS Build 22621.675) Out-of-band
• October 11, 2022—KB5018427 (OS Build 22621.674)
• September 30, 2022—KB5017389 (OS Build 22621.608) Preview
• Windows 11, version 21H2
• April 9, 2024—KB5036894 (OS Build 22000.2899)
• March 12, 2024—KB5035854 (OS Build 22000.2836)
• February 13, 2024—KB5034766 (OS Build 22000.2777)
• January 9, 2024—KB5034121 (OS Build 22000.2713)
• December 12, 2023—KB5033369 (OS Build 22000.2652)
• November 14, 2023—KB5032192 (OS Build 22000.2600)
• October 10, 2023—KB5031358 (OS Build 22000.2538)
• September 26, 2023—KB5030301 (OS Build 22000.2482) Preview
• September 12, 2023—KB5030217 (OS Build 22000.2416)
• August 22, 2023—KB5029332 (OS Build 22000.2360) Preview
• August 8, 2023—KB5029253 (OS Build 22000.2295)
• July 25, 2023—KB5028245 (OS Build 22000.2245) Preview
• July 11, 2023—KB5028182 (OS Build 22000.2176)
• June 28, 2023—KB5027292 (OS Build 22000.2124) Preview
• June 13, 2023—KB5027223 (OS Build 22000.2057)
• May 23, 2023—KB5026436 (OS Build 22000.2003) Preview
• May 9, 2023—KB5026368 (OS Build 22000.1936)
• April 25, 2023—KB5025298 (OS Build 22000.1880) Preview
• April 11, 2023—KB5025224 (OS Build 22000.1817)
• March 28, 2023—KB5023774 (OS Build 22000.1761) Preview
• March 14, 2023—KB5023698 (OS Build 22000.1696)
• February 21, 2023—KB5022905 (OS Build 22000.1641) Preview
• February 14, 2023—KB5022836 (OS Build 22000.1574)
• January 19, 2023—KB5019274 (OS Build 22000.1516) Preview
• January 10, 2023—KB5022287 (OS Build 22000.1455)
• December 13, 2022—KB5021234 (OS Build 22000.1335)
• November 15, 2022—KB5019157 (OS Build 22000.1281) Preview
• November 8, 2022—KB5019961 (OS Build 22000.1219)
• October 25, 2022—KB5018483 (OS Build 22000.1165) Preview
• October 17, 2022—KB5020387 (OS Build 22000.1100) Out-of-band
• October 11, 2022—KB5018418 (OS Build 22000.1098)
• September 20, 2022—KB5017383 (OS Build 22000.1042) Preview
• September 13, 2022—KB5017328 (OS Build 22000.978)
• August 25, 2022—KB5016691 (OS Build 22000.918) Preview
• August 9, 2022—KB5016629 (OS Build 22000.856)
• July 21, 2022—KB5015882 (OS Build 22000.832) Preview
• July 12, 2022—KB5015814 (OS Build 22000.795)
• June 23, 2022—KB5014668 (OS Build 22000.778) Preview
• June 20, 2022—KB5016138 (OS Build 22000.740) Out-of-band
• June 14, 2022—KB5014697 (OS Build 22000.739)
• May 24, 2022—KB5014019 (OS Build 22000.708) Preview
• May 10, 2022—KB5013943 (OS Build 22000.675)
• April 25, 2022—KB5012643 (OS Build 22000.652) Preview
• April 12, 2022—KB5012592 (OS Build 22000.613)
• March 28, 2022—KB5011563 (OS Build 22000.593) Preview
• March 8, 2022—KB5011493 (OS Build 22000.556)
• February 15, 2022—KB5010414 (OS Build 22000.527) Preview
• February 8, 2022—KB5010386 (OS Build 22000.493)
• January 25, 2022—KB5008353 (OS Build 22000.469) Preview
• January 17, 2022—KB5010795 (OS Build 22000.438) Out-of-band
• January 11, 2022—KB5009566 (OS Build 22000.434)
• December 14, 2021—KB5008215 (OS Build 22000.376)
• November 22, 2021—KB5007262 (OS Build 22000.348) Preview
• November 9, 2021—KB5007215 (OS Build 22000.318)
• October 21, 2021—KB5006746 (OS Build 22000.282) Preview
• October 12, 2021—KB5006674 (OS Build 22000.258)

Release Date:

OS Builds 22621.3447 and 22631.3447

2/27/24 IMPORTANT: New dates for the end of non-security updates for Windows 11, version 22H2

The new end date is June 24, 2025 for Windows 11, version 22H2 Enterprise and Education editions. Home and Pro editions of version 22H2 will receive non-security preview updates until June, 26, 2024. 

After these dates, only cumulative monthly security updates will continue for the supported editions of Windows 11, version 22H2. The initial date communicated for this change was February 27, 2024. Based on user feedback, this date has been changed so more customers can take advantage of our continuous innovations . 

For information about Windows update terminology, see the article about the  types of Windows updates  and the  monthly quality update types . For an overview of Windows 11, version 23H2, see its update history page . 

Note  Follow  @WindowsUpdate  to find out when new content is published to the Windows release health dashboard.         

Tip:  The content is within collapsible sections. Click or tap the category name to expand the section.

Voice access

New! You can now use voice access with the following languages:

French (France, Canada)

Spanish (Spain, Mexico)

When you turn on voice access for the first time, Windows will ask you to download a speech model. You might not find a speech model that matches your display language. You can still use voice access in English (US). You can always choose a different language from Settings > Language on the voice access bar.

New! You can now use all voice access features on multiple displays. These include number and grid overlays that, in the past, you could only use on the primary display. While you are using the grid overlay on a screen, you can quickly switch to another display. To do that, use the alphabet or NATO phonetic in your command. For example, “B” or “Bravo” are both valid for the display that is assigned that letter.

New! This update introducesvoice shortcuts or custom commands. You can use them to create your own commands in the supported English dialects. To start, say “what can I say” and click the “Voice shortcuts” tab on the left panel. You can also use the command “show voice shortcuts” to open the Voice shortcuts page. Click Create new shortcut . Use your voice or other input to create a command. Give it a name and select one or more actions. After you fill in the necessary information, click Create . Your command is now ready to use. To view all the voice shortcuts you have created, go to the command help page or use the voice command, “show voice shortcuts.”

New! You can now listen to a preview of the ten natural voices before you download them. See the Narrator section of the September 2023 update for the list. These voices use modern , on-device text-to-speech. Once you download them, they work without an internet connection. However, to listen to a preview, you need an internet connection. To add and use one of the natural voices, follow the steps below.

To open Narrator settings, press the WIN+CTRL+N hotkey.

Under Narrator’s voice, select Add , which is next to Add natural voices .

Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them one at a time.

The preview will play automatically as you browse the list.

If you like the preview, click Download and Install . The new voice downloads and is ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your internet download speed.

In Narrator settings, select your preferred voice from the menu in Narrator’s voice > Choose a voice .

New! This update adds a new keyboard command to move between the images on a screen. Now, you can use the keys G or Shift+G to move forward or backward between images in Scan mode (Narrator key+space bar).

New! This update improves Narrator’s detection of text in images, which includes handwriting. It also improves the descriptions of images. To use this feature, you must have an active internet connection. You must also turn on the setting to get image descriptions in Narrator settings. To try this experience, select an image and press the Narrator key+CTRL+D.

New! In Microsoft Word, Narrator will announce the presence of bookmarks and draft or resolved comments. It also tells you if accessibility suggestions exist when it reads text in the file.

New! You can now use voice access to open applications, dictate text, and interact with elements on the screen. You can also use your voice to command Narrator. For example, you can tell it to, “speak faster,” “read next line,” and so on. To get started, search for “voice access” in Windows search and set it up.

Windows share

New! This update changes the apps that appear in the Windows share window. The account you use to sign in affects the apps that are in “Share using.” For example, if you use a Microsoft account (MSA) to sign in, you will see Microsoft Teams (free). When you use a Microsoft Entra ID account (formerly Azure Active Directory) to sign in, your Microsoft Teams (work or school) contacts show instead.

New! The Windows share window now supports sharing with WhatsApp in the “Share using” section. If you do not have WhatsApp installed, you can install it from the Windows share window.

Nearby Share

New! This update affects how Nearby Share turns on and off. You can use quick settings or the Settings app to turn on Nearby Share. If you do and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are off, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will turn on to make Nearby Share work as you expect. If you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, Nearby Share turns off as well.

New! This update improves Nearby Share transfer speed for users on the same network. Before, users had to be on the same private network. Now, users must be on the same public or private network. You can use quick settings to turn on Nearby Share. Right-click a local file in File Explorer and choose “Share.” Then choose to share to a device listed in Nearby Share in the Windows share window.

New! You can now give your device a more friendly name to identify it when sharing. Go to Settings > System > Nearby sharing . There, you can rename your device.

New! This update helps you to learn about the Cast feature and discover when it is available; see the examples in the list below. To cast means to send content that is on your device’s screen to a nearby PC, TV, or other external displays. This happens wirelessly.

You might often switch between windows to complete a task or use Snap Assist to organize your screen space. When you multitask like this, a notification will suggest that you use Cast.

The Cast flyout menu in quick settings gives you more help to find nearby displays, fix connections, and more.

Snap Layouts

New! This update adds suggestions to   Snap Layouts .  They help you to instantly snap multiple app windows together.

New! You can hover over the minimize or maximize button of an app (WIN+Z) to open the layout box. When you do, app icons will display various layout options. Use them to help you to choose the best layout option.

Windows 365 Boot

New! This update adds dedicated mode for Windows 365 Boot . When you sign in on your company-owned device, doing that also signs you in to your Windows 365 Cloud PC. This occurs using passwordless authentication, like Windows Hello for Business.

New! This new dedicated mode also provides the fast account switcher experience. With it, you can quickly switch profiles and sign in. You can also personalize the experience for your username and password. This includes choosing a custom display picture for the lock screen, storing your username, and more.

New! A company can customize what users see on the screen when they sign in to Windows 365 Boot. In shared mode, you can add company branding from Microsoft Intune.

New! This update adds a fail fast mechanism for Windows 365 Boot. It helps while you are signing in to your Cloud PC. Thesmart logic tells you to address network issues or complete app setup so that Windows 365 Boot does not fail.

New! You can now manage the settings of your physical (local) PC from your Cloud PC. Windows 365 Boot makes it easy to directly access and manage sound, display, and other device settings.

Windows 365 Switch

New! It is now easier for Windows 365 Switch to disconnect. You can use your local PC to disconnect from your Cloud PC. Go to Local PC > Task view . Right-click the Cloud PC button and select Disconnect . This update also adds tooltips to the Cloud PC Start menu. They appear on the options for disconnecting and signing out and help you to learn how each one works.

New! This update adds desktop indicators for Windows 365 Switch.You will see the term “Cloud PC” and “Local PC” on the desktop indicator when you switch between them.

New! The time to connect to Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PC from Windows 365 Switch might be long. While you wait, the screen will show you the connection status and the timeout indicator for the Cloud PC. If there is an error, use the new copy button on the error screen to copy the correlation ID. This helps to address the issue faster.

 Improvements

Note:  To view the list of addressed issues, click or tap the OS name to expand the collapsible section.

Important:  Use EKB  KB5027397  to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

This security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include: 

This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.

No additional issues are documented for this release.

This security update includes improvements that were a part of update KB5035942  (released March 26, 2024). When you install this KB:  

This update makes miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. No additional issues were documented for this release.

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

For more information about security vulnerabilities, please refer to the Security Update Guide website and the April 2024 Security Updates .

Windows 11 servicing stack update - 22621.3447 and 22631.3447

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

Known issues in this update

Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.

How to get this update

Before installing this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates  and  Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions . 

Install this update

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages .

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer ( wusa.exe ) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File information

For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the  file information for cumulative update 5036893 . 

For a list of the files that are provided in the servicing stack update, download the  file information for the SSU - versions 22621.3447 and 22631.3447 .  

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Blog The Education Hub

How to register as a childminder and receive a grant worth up to £1,200.

We’re making the biggest investment by a UK government into childcare in history. Parents have the flexibility to choose how they spend their government-funded hours – and many are opting to use childminders. Being a childminder is a rewarding role where you can …

Related content and links

About the education hub.

The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils, education professionals and the media that captures all you need to know about the education system. You’ll find accessible, straightforward information on popular topics, Q&As, interviews, case studies, and more.

Please note that for media enquiries, journalists should call our central Newsdesk on 020 7783 8300. This media-only line operates from Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm. Outside of these hours the number will divert to the duty media officer.

Members of the public should call our general enquiries line on 0370 000 2288.

Sign up and manage updates

Follow us on social media, search by date, comments and moderation policy.

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Regions & Countries

About half of americans say public k-12 education is going in the wrong direction.

About half of U.S. adults (51%) say the country’s public K-12 education system is generally going in the wrong direction. A far smaller share (16%) say it’s going in the right direction, and about a third (32%) are not sure, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in November 2023.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand how Americans view the K-12 public education system. We surveyed 5,029 U.S. adults from Nov. 9 to Nov. 16, 2023.

The survey was conducted by Ipsos for Pew Research Center on the Ipsos KnowledgePanel Omnibus. The KnowledgePanel is a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The survey is weighted by gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, income and other categories.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

A majority of those who say it’s headed in the wrong direction say a major reason is that schools are not spending enough time on core academic subjects.

These findings come amid debates about what is taught in schools , as well as concerns about school budget cuts and students falling behind academically.

Related: Race and LGBTQ Issues in K-12 Schools

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the public K-12 education system is going in the wrong direction. About two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (65%) say this, compared with 40% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. In turn, 23% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans say it’s headed in the right direction.

Among Republicans, conservatives are the most likely to say public education is headed in the wrong direction: 75% say this, compared with 52% of moderate or liberal Republicans. There are no significant differences among Democrats by ideology.

Similar shares of K-12 parents and adults who don’t have a child in K-12 schools say the system is going in the wrong direction.

A separate Center survey of public K-12 teachers found that 82% think the overall state of public K-12 education has gotten worse in the past five years. And many teachers are pessimistic about the future.

Related: What’s It Like To Be A Teacher in America Today?

Why do Americans think public K-12 education is going in the wrong direction?

We asked adults who say the public education system is going in the wrong direction why that might be. About half or more say the following are major reasons:

• Schools not spending enough time on core academic subjects, like reading, math, science and social studies (69%)
• Teachers bringing their personal political and social views into the classroom (54%)
• Schools not having the funding and resources they need (52%)

About a quarter (26%) say a major reason is that parents have too much influence in decisions about what schools are teaching.

How views vary by party

Americans in each party point to different reasons why public education is headed in the wrong direction.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say major reasons are:

• A lack of focus on core academic subjects (79% vs. 55%)
• Teachers bringing their personal views into the classroom (76% vs. 23%)

In turn, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to point to:

• Insufficient school funding and resources (78% vs. 33%)
• Parents having too much say in what schools are teaching (46% vs. 13%)

Views also vary within each party by ideology.

Among Republicans, conservatives are particularly likely to cite a lack of focus on core academic subjects and teachers bringing their personal views into the classroom.

Among Democrats, liberals are especially likely to cite schools lacking resources and parents having too much say in the curriculum.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings

‘Back to school’ means anytime from late July to after Labor Day, depending on where in the U.S. you live

Among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .