Education Reforms

• The abolition of serfdom increased the need for basic literacy and numeracy among peasants trying to run their private smallholdings Zemstva provided an opportunity for a change in the control and funding of education. Minister of Education was Alexander Golovin (1862-66)
• Universities were given the opportunity to govern themselves and appoint their own staff Responsibility for schooling was transferred from the Russian Orthodox Church to the Zemstva. Primary and secondary education was extended , with 'modern schools' established at secondary level for those who did not want the traditional classical education in a gimnaziya (plural: gimnazii). Students from both could progress to Uni.
• Schools were declared 'open to all' regardless of class and sex- allowing women to attend secondary school for non-vocational education from 1870. New independence given to the Unis had the effect of increasing the number of radical and militant thinking. Reforms were so 'successful' that after 1866, it was deemed necessary to reassert gov control.