On the basis of archival documents the author for the first time introduces data on the organizational structure of regional authorities in the field of national education. The article considers types of institutions for primary education, their financial conditions and activity, students’ social background. It estimates the role of the public in the development of national education in the Yakut region. The author concludes that the organization of primary education in the Yakut region at the beginning of the XXth century corresponded to the all-Russian system, however it fell behind in numbers. Moreover, regional authorities and society played an important role in the development of education.