Russia

Islam on the Rise

The Russian Islamic University, founded in 1998, currently enrolls 148 students from both Russia and neighboring countries. The growing demand for Islamic education in the region appears to be a by-product of the lifting of religious constraints following the fall of the Soviet Union.

The rise in student enrollments at the university, as well as increased attendance at the Yoldyz Madrassa, another Islamic religious institution, has Russian officials concerned about the potential threat of Islamic fundamentalism. The Islamic faith is seen by many as conflicting with the ideals of Russian Orthodoxy and the promotion of capitalism.

— The New York Times
Nov. 9, 2001

Teachers, Beware

Moscow schools have hooked up a telephone hotline, (095) 923-1246, allowing students to report abusive teachers. These steps were taken in response to the many reports of bribery, physical and psychological abuse, and wrongful personal searches perpetrated by teachers on students in schools throughout the country.

The hotline and Web site will connect the Education Ministry with the concerns of students and parents. It is hoped that the dissemination of information and improved communication will promote the idea of student rights and protection under the law.

— The St. Petersburg Times
Sept. 25, 2001

Ukraine

Nation Stresses Education Continuum

Education in the Ukraine is modeled on the European system. The complex structure includes: preschool education, comprehensive secondary education, extra-school education, vocational technical education, higher education — graduate, postgraduate and doctoral education — as well as self-education. The education continuum characterizes the country’s pursuit for learning with relative ease, as indicated by its distant learning programs.

The Ukraine promotes education in all facets of life, thereby promoting the development of creative, intellectual, physical and spiritual skills. The country promotes the principles of extra-school education in addition to traditional education, supported by the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights. The establishment of a constitutional law on out-of-school education within the Ukraine is indicative of the country’s education principles.

— Ukrainian Education Server
Nov. 16, 2001