The author analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of the national system of education introduced in the western parts of the Russian Empire during the 19th and beginning of the 20th century and outlines the causes of the reforms. The tsarist system of education in Russia developed stepwise and can be divided into the following phases: 1) first half of the 19th century; 2) second third of the 19th century; 3) 1860 until the end of the 1870s marked by a movement of counterreforms; 4) beginning of the 1880s and the second wave of counter-reforms; 5) pre-revolutionary period and the October Revolution of 1917. The educational policy of tsarist Russia influenced not only the state educational institutions but also private educational institutions in which the national languages (Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, German) prevailed. Special stress was laid on the German schools, which was part of the fight against Germanization, and Russia applied its laws to advance in the Russification of the different nations who inhabited the western provinces of the Russian Empire. At the end of the 19th century, even in private schools, the language of education had to be Russian, and only religion was allowed to be taught in the national languages. The national aspirations were suppressed not only by the laws but also by making Russian the dominant language. This situation changed only after the revolution of 1905. The primary schools and private schools that did not get any funding from the state were allowed to teach in their national languages. The author emphasizes the opinions of state employees, priests, public servants and representatives of local councils involved in educational matters.