More than 80 diplomas were won by schoolchildren of the Vitebsk region at republican and international subject Olympiads

The regional philharmonic hosted a ceremony honoring the winners of the final stage of the republican subject olympiads and international subject olympiads of 2015, as well as the educators who contributed to these high achievements. They were awarded prizes from the regional executive committee.

This year, the Vitebsk region added 80 diplomas to its award collection based on the results of the republican olympiad. Furthermore, at the 27th International Olympiad in Informatics in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Barbara Kuskova, a graduate of Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 1 (now a student at Belarusian State University), won a silver medal, and Ilya Medyanikov, an 11th-grade student at Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 8, won a bronze medal.

Speaking at the award ceremony for the prize certificates, Vladimir Terentyev, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, noted that the Vitebsk region demonstrates consistently strong performance in the olympiad movement. To meet the high educational demands of students, 25 gymnasiums, a lyceum, and two cadet schools are in operation. Over 70% of the diploma winners from the republican olympiad finals are representatives of these educational institutions. In the last three years, more than 300 representatives from the Vitebsk region have become laureates of the Special Fund of the President for the Social Protection of Gifted Students.

The Regional Executive Committee traditionally places special emphasis on providing quality education to the younger generation and stimulating pedagogical work. In the current year alone, 4.5 trillion rubles have been allocated for the needs of the education system, accounting for over 28% of the regional budget. Since the establishment of the Regional Executive Committee's prize for winners of the republican olympiad and their teachers (2011), 333 students and 241 educators have been honored. Twenty education and science professionals have been awarded the honorary title "Person of the Year of Vitebsk Region," and 21 have received commendations from the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee.

The region is renowned for its talented, creative educators, highly qualified professionals with an active life stance and a great love for children. These include Veronika Pavlovna Laktina, an IT teacher at Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 8, who prepared the aforementioned winners of the international Olympiad; Alla Alekseevna Moralina, a biology teacher at Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 1; Sergey Nikolaevich Krivenko, a geography teacher at Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 2; Tatyana Failovna Lubinskaya, director and Belarusian language teacher at Novopolotsk Gymnasium No. 2; and many others. Vladimir Terentyev expressed words of gratitude to the heads of Vitebsk Gymnasiums No. 2 (which was included in the republican Honor Roll based on the results of 2014), No. 1, 3, and 8; Braslav Gymnasium; Luzhki Secondary School of Sharkovshchyna District; Novka Secondary School of Vitebsk District; Borovaya Secondary School of Lepel District; Chapuki Secondary School of Miory District; Orekhovskaya Secondary School of Ushachi District; Obol Secondary School of Shumilino District, and others. The assistance of Vitebsk State University named after P. Masherov, the Medical University, and the Veterinary Academy, as well as Polotsk State University, in preparing students for the Olympiad, developing their research, creative, and project activities, is highly appreciated. The work of specialists from the Regional Institute for the Development of Education in disseminating effective pedagogical experience at the republican and international levels, and providing methodological support for professional skill competitions, has also been duly recognized.

For students, the Olympiad helps them determine their life path; for winners, it opens the doors to coveted universities; and for educators, it provides undeniable proof of their high professionalism. Parents who have managed to raise bright and capable children experience legitimate pride in their achievements.

The solemn ceremony was attended by Mikhail Volkov, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission on Education, Culture, and Science of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, and Alexander Tsetsoho, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Healthcare, Physical Culture, Family, and Youth Policy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly.

Galina Shpakovskaya. Photo by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye Vesti".