Nomad Education in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug: Problems and Potential

Abstract

In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the project “Nomad Education” has been implemented since 2010, aimed at solving the issues of accessibility of education for children of tundra people in the conditions of family, industrial nomadic camps. For 10 years, the attitude towards nomadic education has changed dramatically, in connection with which the paper presents an analysis of the effectiveness of nomadic education in teaching children of indigenous peoples in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug based on a study of the opinions of the nomadic population. This information can be the impetus for the improving the quality of education in nomadic areas. The purpose of the publication is to identify the problematic issues of nomadic education and determine the prospects for the project. The study involved 622 respondents from the indigenous population in 7 municipalities (districts) of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistica 10 and SAS JMP 11 software packages. The results of a survey of the nomadic population on the effectiveness of teaching children in the system of nomadic education are presented. Nomadic education was assessed, risks and potential were identified. The most active supporters of nomadic education were reindeer herders, which is primarily due to the specifics of their nomadic life. Among the main factors affecting the quality of learning of children of the nomadic population, there is a shortage of qualified teachers who speak their native languages and are willing to work in the extreme conditions of nomadic life. Research materials can be useful to methodologists and teachers implementing the project “Nomadic Education” both in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and in other territories of the Russian Arctic.