Indigenous education in the Arctic regions of Russia: response to pandemics

Abstract

The article actualizes the problems of organizing distance learning in the education system of indigenous peoples, including those leading a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle with their parents, in the context of transformation lessons of the pandemic. The authors present the results of the 2020-2021 study of the situation with distant learning in the Arctic regions of Russia (case of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug). The information was taken from monitoring, questionairies and interviews with teachers, students and education management officers. The research aims to prove inequality but find measures to improve the situation. The authors draw up the prospects for transformation to digital educational environment in remote places and see if we could minimize inequality and social unjustice between children living in the central territories and in the most remote, isolated places of traditional residence of the indigenous small-numbered peoples, including those who lead a nomadic lifestyle with their parents.