The Preschool Education System in Siberia: Current State and Problems of Development

ABSTRACT The article considers the development of the preschool education system and the standard of living of educators living in the Siberian Federal District (as measured by the purchasing power of their wages). Due to labor shortages, the Russian education system must make it possible for women with small children to enter the labor force. The Siberian Federal District was chosen because it plays an important role in Russia’s economy, while the selected time period allows us to consider the latest trends in the development of the education system. The study revealed that the number of preschool institutions has been decreasing, primarily due to political decisions and regional economic development. At the same time, the number of preschool children has been growing as a result of higher rural birth rates. This has led to increased group size in preschool institutions. Another issue is the low standard of living of teachers, although it is higher than the national average in the Siberian Federal District.