Abstract: in this article the problem of the formation and development of reflective thinking of Russian schoolchildren is considered as one of the important indicators of the level of functional literacy and strategic development of the Russian Federation in global competition by using human potential as the main factor in economic development. The results of the annual assessment of the competency model of schoolchildren of grades 9 and 11 in recent years demonstrate a significant lag in the formation of “self-creating order of mental structure” among Russian graduates, including control over their actions based on their own feelings, thoughts and values, responsibility for their life choices. The purpose of the research necessitated the study of psychological, pedagogical, social causes of the insufficient level of development of the reflective abilities of students. The results of this study show that, provided that in the next 4-5 years, school graduates rely on social acquisitions that their parents made (generation X), then a significant impact on the development of such a key life competence as reflection on the part of the family is most likely not expected. Considering the complexity of the formation of reflection on the mental level of modern Russian society, we identified such a factor as the general deficit of reflective culture in Russian education, including the teacher himself. The work carried out as part of the study of this problem, our interpretations and explanations need further study of factors related to the education sector, and the need to study and develop possible ways out of this situation.
Keywords: reflection, functional literacy, developmental factors of students’ reflexive abilities