The publication purpose is to plan perspective directions of pedagogical research activity.Methods. The analysis and generalisation of the situation fully developed in the Russian education and pedagogical science for the last quarter of the century.It is proved that the low demand of results of pedagogical researches is caused not only by full subordination of a science to departmental interests and inquiries, inability and unwillingness of officials to listen to opinion and conclusions of scientists, but also low quality of considerably increased stream of dissertational works and the publications which authors aspire to avoid sharp, socially significant problems.Theorists not too actively oppose dominations of formalism, petty official guardianship, the paper and computer-based data reporting. As a result, practice is also out of order – plenty of important issues are lost in the educational plan, the preparation of qualified engineering and personnel, and knowledge on natural-scientific disciplines; leading position of the Russian education in a world ranking concerning development of creative abilities of oncoming generation is lost. Under «the optimisation» slogan, unreasoned decisions with not counted risks, focused on illusive momentary benefits and heedless of the delayed social effects are made.Results and scientific novelty. Measures on real support of scientific and pedagogical schools, on education of methodological culture of supervisors of studies and scientific consultants are offered. It is referred to the establishment of regional centres of science on the basis of leading universities under the authority of the Russian Academy of Education. The long-term experience of activity of the Centre on the basis of scientific and pedagogical school of the Tyumen State University is presented as an example.Practical significance. The author points out the approximate subjects required by practice and the perspective scientific themes providing real but not a declarative priority of education in the state development; it will allow the country to overcome the development gap behind the best world educational standards.