Olga Soldatkina, a Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department commented for Nezavisimaya gazeta on issues related to ensuring equal access to education.
The economist noted that, in order to realize the right to education, it is not enough to simply have the formal opportunity to enroll in an educational institution. It is important to create conditions that allow every child to fully participate in the educational process, regardless of where they live, their financial situation, or their individual characteristics.
“Equality in access to education is not limited to the right to be admitted to an educational institution; the issue of the environment—equal opportunities to receive an education—is also crucial. If a child lives in a community without a school, additional organizational measures are needed—such as a regular school bus—to compensate for the initial geographical inequality. The same applies to financial or physical limitations. It turns out that access to the system does not yet determine the quality of participation in it,” emphasized Olga Soldatkina.
According to the expert, the key question today remains: what specific support measures are needed to reduce existing educational disparities and ensure truly equal opportunities for all students.