Markers of the Neoliberal Tendencies in the Concepts of Modernization of the Russian Education

The article presents an attempt to critically comprehend the influence of the neoliberal ideological project on the educational policy of post-Soviet Russia. The authors elucidate the meanings of the ideologies of global capitalism, such as “knowledge economy”, “lifelong learning”, “human capital”, “individual freedom”, “competition” and their impact on the formation of educational policy. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate how these ideological constructs are integrated into modern concepts of modernization of Russian education. Particular attention is given to the emergence of “new pedagogical thinking” in the late 1980s and 1990s, which introduced the idea of child's freedom and the prioritization of their rights into the educational discourse. The article discusses the concept of personality-oriented education, which promoted the significance of the “individual self”, as well as the competence-based approach, which established competencies as leading characteristics of a competitive individual adapted to the demands of the global economy. The article raises the question of the place of personalized education in modern pedagogical theory and practice. In conclusion, the authors advocate for a critical reassessment of adherence to the neoliberal tradition in education to revive and strengthen the value sovereignty of Russia.