"I am sure there are plenty of higher education institutions in Russia with solid educational programs. As to the system of secondary education, it was always the best in the world, and after the decline during the 1990s has already come back to the previous high level," said Vice-President of Russian Railways public corporation Anna Belova.
Her son has graduated from a state university in Russia. He chose to study in Russia after comparing university programs in Russia and the United States.
"My case is not typical though. My son was a winner of various national Olympiads in physics and mathematics, member of Russian national team, repeating winner of international contests. As you know, headhunters in the West are always looking for smart people, so, he was invited to join a high school program in the United States. However, after comparing the curriculum and programs my son insisted that American education could never compete with the program offered by the mathematics faculty at the Moscow State University," Mrs. Belova said.
"We tried to send our son to a private school in the UK. In the 1990s it was a popular trend. However, we had to take him back because we were not happy about poor methodology of education," stated Anatoly Karachinsky, the president of IBS holding, the largest Russian holding in the sphere of information technologies. "Studying abroad is a good life experience for children, but the quality of education there is poor."
According to Mr. Karachinsky, primary and secondary education in Russia is very good because the methodology remains the same from the Soviet times, although higher education in the West is better.
"According to statistical data, Russia is the only country in the world where more than 50% of students study technical or engineering professions. In other countries this percentage is much lower," he said.
In his opinion, Russian universities lack technical and material base necessary for preparation of professionals in their respective fields.
"My son wanted to follow my steps and become a programmer. Russian universities lack modern facilities and equipment, but most importantly they lack adequate teachers," he pointed out, conceding at the same time that the problem is caused by inadequate salary levels of university teachers.
Mr. Karachinsky's elder son is studying at a foreign university, and his younger son - at a Russian secondary school.
"My kids are studying at state schools in Russia," said Boris Nuraliev, the director of 1C company that distributes automation software for small and medium-size businesses.
"My eldest daughter is studying at the Moscow Technical Institute of Physics. This institute always accepted only the brightest students and she made a strong effort to be among them. It was her choice, although I personally do not know of any comparable private or foreign university in terms of the quality of education," he continued.
Nuraliev's middle daughter is studying at a local secondary school and his youngest daughter is attending a speech therapy group at a local kindergarten.
"The educational system in Russia ensures that state schools receive land, buildings, salaries and other support from the state. They usually have good professional staff and traditions," Mr. Nuraliev concluded.
Deputy director of Sheremetyevo airport Sergei Nedoroslev said that in the search for a school for his children he pays close attention to the quality of education; therefore, he uses school ratings to make the right choice.
"Basically, it does not matter to me where my kids will study. What is important is that they receive the best education," he said.
Two of his children are studying in Russian schools, and two elder children at universities in the UK and the United States.
