Introduction. In connection with the need for constant improvement of Russian education in order to enhance its competitiveness, it is necessary to formulate positions according to which students, first of all, should improve in acquiring knowledge, acquiring skills, and developing skills. These are the positions that are most in demand in society today. Education, of course, must meet the needs of modern society. The task of making education modern, meeting the demands of the time, is being solved almost constantly in connection with the constant changes in the world associated with new discoveries in various fields and their implementation. The competitiveness of the Russian Federation as a whole depends on the quality of education of its citizens. The functional literacy of the country's citizens is capable of guaranteeing the full development of Russia.

The concept of “literacy” is currently understood as a functional category: it is a person's ability to solve assigned tasks at various levels. Functional literacy makes a person a professional in a particular field, and also allows him to quickly navigate in an environment and in a social environment.

What is functional literacy? Why is functional literacy necessary? How to form functional literacy of a student of a pedagogical university? The authors of the article tried to solve these and some other questions.

Materials and methods. In the course of work on the topic, the definitions of the concepts of functional literacy, competence, competence and others were analyzed in order to identify aspects of their consideration in scientific and methodological literature; an attempt was made to determine the ways and features of the formation of functional literacy of students of a pedagogical university. The problems are identified and the ways of their solution are offered.

Results. Among the factors of functional literacy of a student of a pedagogical university, a future teacher, we note the following as the main ones: the ability to see problems arising in educational activities, knowledge of methods and techniques for their resolution, the ability to solve emerging problems; the ability for constructive interpersonal communication, understanding how to prevent conflict, the ability to prevent conflicts; knowledge of the ways, methods of self-education, the ability to continuous self-education to improve professionalism; the skill of mastering information and communication technologies (the ability to choose adequate information and communication technologies; the ability to present information in a presentation); the ability to self-analyze, to correct their own behavior from the standpoint of professionalism; general literacy, in particular linguistic, mathematical and other.

Discussion. Modern higher pedagogical education is focused on the formation and development of the future teacher's success in professional activity. This is the focus of the Federal State Educational Standards of Higher Education. Among the parameters of functional literacy are general literacy; information literacy; computer literacy; communication literacy; proficiency in a foreign language at a sufficient level; literacy in solving everyday problems; literacy of actions in emergency situations; legal and socio-political literacy. These positions begin to form in the individual in the process of general education, and they improve, go to a new, more advanced level in the process of higher education. In the process of working on general literacy, the student masters the norms of the modern Russian literary language, the ability to write an essay, presentation, essay, the ability to answer questions without experiencing difficulties in constructing a phrase, choosing words, writing an application, filling out any forms, questionnaires and other.

Computer and information literacy assumes that the student must be able to search for information on the Internet, and search both on the Internet and in the library funds, the media, using reliable, authoritative sources and names. Communication literacy is especially important for the future teacher: the teacher must be able to work in a team.

Conclusion. The functional literacy of a teacher must be formed in the process of educational and practical activities in a systematic and ongoing manner. In this case, the student will be able to acquire the ability for competent action to solve professional problems, the ability to use the acquired knowledge to solve certain problems in the field of pedagogical activity.

Definitions of such concepts as "functional literacy", "general literacy" and others;

The main problems of the formation of functional literacy among students are described;

The proposed methodological aspects of the formation of functional literacy among students of the pedagogical university are presented.

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