Digitalization of education in Russia: between innovation and digital inequality

Abstract

The digital transformation of education in Russia opens new horizons for personalized learning, enhanced student engagement, and the development of future-ready skills. However, the rapid adoption of digital platforms, AI-powered assistants, and VR/AR technologies has exposed a deep social divide between large urban centers and remote regions. While students in major cities are mastering adaptive learning environments and virtual laboratories, their peers in rural areas face challenges such as unreliable internet connectivity, outdated equipment, and low levels of teachers’ digital literacy. This article examines the balance between technological progress and social equity within the Russian education system. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach – ranging from infrastructure equalization and teacher support to flexible learning formats and systematic monitoring. The author concludes that only an inclusive, socially oriented digital transformation can preserve education as a genuine engine of social mobility and guarantee equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their place of residence.