On History of Education in Tobolsk

In 1701 under the Decree of Peter I a school was opened in Tobolsk for children of local officials. The first educational establishment in Siberia was of a secular character. In 1703 metropolitan Phylopheum opened a clerical school that was in 1743 transformed into a theological seminary. At that time the Tobolsk seminary was regarded as a leading educational and pedagogical enlightening center in Siberia. Apart from priest service the graduates were appointed to the state service, where educated and skilled officials were required.

The next step was marked by organizing the Public college, where children of varied classes could get educated. The Tartar language was introduced in the curriculum, which was a significant fact by itself. That period was characterized by mass secular education, and a lot of public and private schools were opened. For instance a geodesic school was organized to prepare experts in geodesics and cartography for study of remote parts of Siberia.

The middle of the XIXth century was characterized by a substantial increase in secondary schools. Among them a particular attention could be focused on the Mariinski female school that was regarded as ‘a seed-plot of female education’. The curriculum of the Mariinsk school apart from traditional disciplines included music, dancing, arts, and applied sciences. Monasteries around Tobolsk were also educational and cultural centers. In 1866 an eparchial female college was opened at the Ioann-Vvedenski monastery, which prepared female teachers for parish schools. In 1878 the first in Siberia medical educational institution was opened, i.e. a maternity school. In 1913 a Decree was issued on compulsory primary education in Siberia. It should be particularly noted that despite a wide-spread opinion of the total illiteracy in Russia, it was that period that was characterized by an unprecedented growth of education within the country. Statistic data can verify that in 1897 only 10% of children went to school, and by 1913 this figure had increased up to 40% in Tobolsk. 96,7% of children of the school age lived in towns, and 33,3% in the countryside. By the beginning of the XX century the amount of the state donations to public education had doubled in twice.