The Russian parliament is expected to pass the bill on new education regulations and standards in second reading. If it's signed into law, a big share of school-leavers will be cut off from colleges and universities.

After the standardized state exam was introduced in, many higher learning institutions encountered a growing number of underperforming students.

Some have brought in thresholds for the number of points that school-leaverstudents had to gain to be elegible for enrolment, effectively screening out large groups of low-graders.

But for many lower-sized and regional institutions more students means more state funding, and so they can’t be too squeamish about exam results.

MPs now say they want to ensure universities and colleges are for smart folks only, not just someone dodging the draft. According to the bill, students will not be able to apply if their scores in core subjects are lower than needed for the A or B marks.

The move appears to be well-intentioned, but it is likely to run counter to the Constitution, which empowers everyone to get free education. According to Article 43, Everyone shall have the right to education, not only to free pre-school, secondary and high vocational education, but the basic law also makes sure that everyone shall have the right to receive a free higher education in a state or municipal educational establishment and at an enterprise on a competitive basis.

The state’s only function is to “establish federal state educational standards and support various forms of education and self-education”, rather than deciding who should be eligible for higher education and later on to higher-paid jobs.

But with so much tough legislation being passed over the past six months, these concerns might well be ignored.

If you want to know more on what’s happening in Russian education, contact Russia-IC.

As usual, some relevant videos below on the issues and challenges of Russian education.

Just a funny spoof video.

Russian Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Sergei Ivanets, delivers remarks at the 5th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting