Interethnic relations and ethnocultural education in Russia

Abstract

These are results of large-scaled research project done in many regions of Russia on the conditions and factors of implementing the nationalities policy in educational activities. It investigates civic and ethnocultural components in identity formation among students. The goal of this research is also to disclose status, concerns and aspirations of the population, primarily the youth, for studying ethnic (minoritarian) languages and for practicing ethnocultural contents in education. A gap has been discovered between state educational requirements on teaching minority languages and ethnocultural necessities. So far school students are primarily oriented to study subjects needed for state certifications, existing system does not reflect varieties of interests of multiethnic populations in Russia’s regions. Another discovered problem is a disparity between the objectives of civil identity formation and of keeping and studying ethnic backgrounds. By the results of this study, conclusions and recommendation are made to improve ethnocultural contents of education as part of state nationalities policy and as a condition to ensure interethnic peace and accord.