Family Values through the Eyes of Students of the Republic of Buryatia (Using the Example of Secondary Vocational Education)

The article examines the views of students of technical schools and colleges of the Republic of Buryatia on a number of issues related to family planning, such as the age they plan to marry, number children they want to have, and who largely influenced the formation of their values. Global processes have not passed by Russia, especially such a small region as the Republic of Buryatia, which is home to less than one million people. Recently, there has been an increasingly noticeable trend towards late marriage and family relations among young people (48,3% choose marriage at the age of 25–34); an increase in career orientation (16,9%) and material wealth (9%). This is especially evident among girls, perhaps because the image of a young mother, and, especially, a mother of many children, is associated with the image of a homemaker, which they do not plan to try on in the near future. The projected total fertility rate (TFR) of 1,60 for girls and 1,77 for boys is insufficient to replace generations; there is an increase in childlessness (10,9%) and uncertainty (16,3%). Against this background, 33,4% of students chose the option «family» as a key value. The authors pay particular attention to the contradictions between traditions and modernization. The materials of the article are taken from a sociological study conducted within the framework of a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Buryatia in June-September 2024.