More than 600 young teachers from the Vitebsk region celebrated their first Teacher's Day

The entire elite of regional pedagogy could be seen at the Vitebsk Concert Hall last Thursday. On this, in essence, nationwide holiday, society pays tribute to the professionalism and talent of education workers – from kindergarten teachers to university professors.

The current academic year is the first working year in the lives of Olga and Sergey Khayan. After graduating from VSU named after P. Masherov with a degree in «Bioecology» , they were assigned to the Glubokoe district. Sergey Alexandrovich teaches chemistry and biology at the Zaprudskaya kindergarten-basic school and Glubokoe Secondary School No. 1, Olga Sergeevna – at the Zalesskaya kindergarten-secondary school. Since both are from out of town (he is a native of Pruzhany, Brest region, she is from Myadel, Minsk region), they were provided with a room in one of the dormitories of the district center. The couple likes their jobs, as they chose their profession thoughtfully. At the solemn meeting in honor of Teacher's Day, held in Vitebsk on October 3, they represented the corps of young specialist colleagues of the region.

As emphasized in his speech by the Head of the Education Department of the Regional Executive Committee, Ivan Shchurok, the leadership of the Vitebsk region pays great attention to the needs of this crucial sector. Currently, about 4 trillion rubles, or 27.2% of the regional budget, are allocated to its needs. 93% of teachers have higher education, and 77% hold the highest or first qualification category. This is a high indicator. In recent years, the region has achieved self-sufficiency in pedagogical personnel. They are trained at VSU named after P. Masherov and Polotsk State University. On September 1, 628 young specialists began their work. The task is to do everything possible to ensure their successful adaptation and retention within the education system.

The best traditions of national education are developing in the Vitebsk region. Veterans of pedagogical work Nikanor Mikhailovich Girsa, Ivan Alexandrovich Rytko, Mikhail Nikitovich Tivo (Vitebsk), Svetlana Ivanovna Drozdova (Novopolotsk), Roman Iosifovich Tarasevich (Glubokoe), and many others have made a significant contribution to this.

The quality of education for young citizens is increasing. The coverage of five-year-old children with preschool preparation has reached 100%. Support for gifted and talented youth has become a tradition. In the final of the republican subject Olympiad for the 2012-2013 academic year, 81 schoolchildren from our region received awards. Akwuh James Aye Terence (Polotsk Gymnasium No. 1) won a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad. Four young representatives from the Vitebsk region received diplomas at the Union State Olympiad. Another eloquent result of the previous academic year is 345 school graduates with honors, over 140 graduates of the vocational education system completed their studies with distinction, 145 students of additional education institutions became winners of international competitions and contests, and 367 won republican ones.

Of course, there are challenges, but the region's education system is functioning stably, fulfilling the state's mandate to train worthy citizens of the Republic of Belarus. The work of teachers Alexander Vladimirovich Shugol and Natalia Stefanovna Shlyakhto (Vitebsk Cadet School), Alla Alekseevna Moralina (Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 1), Veronika Pavlovna Laktina (Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 8), Elena Aleksandrovna Marutko (Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 7), and many other highly professional, dedicated teachers deserves the highest praise.

Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Terentyev conveyed words of congratulations and gratitude to the educators from the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets. In his address, the head of the region assured that they can continue to count on state support in creating conditions for successful education, labor, and moral upbringing of children and youth, and their involvement in technical and artistic creativity, sports, and physical culture. The Governor wished the teachers health, well-being, inspiration, and success, urged them to remain true to their profession, so that the fire of love for their students burns in their hearts, and their kindness, wisdom, and patience never run out.

During the solemn ceremony, many educators were awarded. Among them, Elena Konstantinovna Dubovik, Deputy Director of the Postavy Vocational College of Agricultural Production, was presented with the badge "Excellent Student of Education" («Выдатнік адукацыі»), Alexander Nikolaevich Krivolap, Director of Ivanskaya Secondary School of Chashniki District, received an Honorary Diploma from the Ministry of Education, Natalia Petrovna Aleshina, a teacher at Polotsk Gymnasium No. 2, received an Honorary Diploma from the Regional Executive Committee. A number of their colleagues were awarded Commendations from the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, diplomas from the Education Department of the Regional Executive Committee, and awards from the Central Committee and Regional Committee of the Trade Union of Science and Education Workers. A concert by the best children's and youth amateur performance groups was a gift for all participants of the solemn meeting.

Galina Shpakovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"