The comparative pedagogics is a science about comparison of features of general and particular tendencies, laws and mechanisms of development of education in world, regional, national and federal scales.

It is a science which analyzes predominantly in the substantial plan a state, the basic tendencies and mechanisms of development of education on a global scale, opens interrelations of overall tendencies of national or regional peculiarity, reveals positive and negative aspects of international pedagogical experience, the form and means of mutual enrichment of national pedagogical cultures.

Comparative pedagogics – independent sphere of scientific knowledge which has its object, a subject, specific functions and tasks.

Object of comparative pedagogics - education as process of social and cultural reproduction of the person in the modern world, and also as social institute in global, regional and national scales.

Subject of comparative pedagogics - a state, tendencies and mechanisms of development world (foreign and domestic) pedagogical experience and national pedagogical cultures of the present.

The primary goals of comparative pedagogics:

• The system description of the newest and little-known facts representing the substantial developments of education in foreign countries.
• Systematization and analysis of the quantitative data about the education systems development in these countries.
• Revealing and analysis of the major mechanisms and tendencies of education development in various countries.
• Development of the scientifically-grounded quality assessment criteria and efficiency of education either, in one or another country.
• Determination of priority directions of an educational policy.
• Comparison of achievements and weaknesses of education in foreign countries.

The main methodological question of comparative pedagogics consists in, what measure and in what forms is possible and expedient to use achievements of the modern foreign experience in its activity.

The basic functions of comparative pedagogics:

• Unification and ordering of terms and concepts of the pedagogical documentation of different countries with the purpose of simplification of foreign experience studying by experts.
• Comparison of different models of education and an educational policy, theoretical aims of foreign and domestic teachers and education figures.
• Forecasting probable ways of development of education in the future.
• Development of plans for education development.

The basic categories and concepts of comparative pedagogics:

• Education, a world education system, social institute of education, strategy of education development, standardization of education, the modern foreign pedagogical experience, a national education system and training, pedagogical culture, an educational policy, the pedagogical documentation.