The System of Public Education on the Territory of the Black Sea Province in 1896–1917. Part 1

Abstract

The article discusses the system of public education on the territory of the Black Sea province in 1896–1917. In this part the authors consider the period of 1896–1908, that is, from the moment the province was formed to the start of preparatory measures for the introduction of universal primary education in Russia. The main sources for the preparation of the work were the annual “Reports on the state of educational institutions in the Caucasian educational district” which presented data on schools under the Ministry of Public Education and the All-Subordinate reports of the Ober-Prosecutor of the Holy Synod, which reflected the information on parish schools. In conclusion, the authors state that public education on the territory of the Black Sea province in the period from 1896 to 1908 had its own extensive system and included secondary, lower and primary educational institutions. For the specified time, the number of students increased by more than 6,5 times, and the number of educational institutions — by 4 times. Despite a more than twofold increase in the population of the province from 1896 to 1908, the number of schools per 1 thousand inhabitants increased (0,5 schools per 1 thousand inhabitants in 1896, and 1 school per 1 thousand inhabitants in 1908). Along with the rise in the number of schools, the library funds of educational institutions increased, as well as other areas of school activity, for example, in the field of adult education.