Public Education System in the Caucasus Region in the 1850s: Unification and Regulation of Educational Process

This article considers the public education system in the Caucasus region in the 1850s, i.e. at the time when unification and regulation of the educational process was taking place within educational institutions. Statutory documents describing the public education system in the Caucasus during the middle of the 19th century were used as study materials. For example, such statutory documents include the Provisions on the Caucasus Educational District and, educational institutions reporting to it. In addition, the authors used compilations of published documents as well as specialist literature. When resolving research tasks, the authors used both general scientific methods (analysis and synthesis, specialization, generalization) and conventional methods of historical analyses. The historical and situational method, which involves studying historic evidence in the context of the surveyed period in conjunction with the neighboring events and facts, is of extreme importance. In conclusion, the authors note that the Caucasus region in the 1850s underwent educational process unification and regulation. Time of chaotic operations at gymnasiums and secondary schools ended and the population of the region was increasingly understanding the benefits of education. As the result, Caucasian schools were becoming increasingly similar to their counterparts in the inland areas of the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, evolution of the public education system in the Caucasus was taking place in view of the ongoing Caucasian War in the region. That is why mosque schools enjoyed a practically autonomous status, for the Russian Administration tried not to provoke the local Muslim population. In addition, the Caucasus region didn't have any mixed schools. That was also a regional feature of this area.