Interregional comparisons in preschool education: system of ranking assessments
The authors argue that ranking assessment in education has become a very popular subject for discussion in the educational community and among personnel of education authorities. It is demonstrated that a reliable regional ranking is a kind of a benchmarking as it enables each region not only to see its achievements and failures, but to overcome the current difficulties taking into account the achievements of the neighbors. In this regard the word «reliable» is of particular importance. It is the authors’ opinion that the calculations are based on a serious methodology, specially selected meaningfully interpreted indicators comparable by regions, reliable information database -data from the federal statistical observation (results of annual federal statistical observations on the activities of preschool educational organizations, on consumer prices, etc.). The comparisons of regional preschool education systems are interesting in themselves, as it is in the early childhood that, regardless of the place of residence, a foundation for a child’s socialization and outcomes of his further education are created. The article presents a comparative analysis of various aspects of the preschool education system functioning in the regions of Russia based on a complex of ranking assessments for 2010 and 2012. The objects of the research are 83 regional preschool education systems.