For the new academic year, three times more funds have been allocated to strengthen the material and technical base of education in the Vitebsk region
Thanks to the optimization of the educational network in the Vitebsk region, over 22 million rubles have been allocated to strengthen the material and technical base of the region's educational institutions, which is almost 3.5 times more than last year. This was announced by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, on the opening day of the regional pedagogical conference at the Vitebsk Concert Hall. What tasks will the education system of the Vitebsk region face in the current academic year?
Money will be available
– Get ready for work, – Nikolai Nikolaevich addressed the educators at the beginning of his speech. – The region's education system is working stably, but there are issues. One of the most pressing issues, exacerbated in recent years due to the demographic situation, is the optimization of the educational network. The number of small schools is systematically decreasing, and some are being reorganized. This is a logical process, as in the last four years, the number of students in rural areas has decreased by approximately 2.5 thousand. In cities, on the contrary, the number of children has increased by 5.5 thousand. As of September 1, there are 367 general secondary education institutions, 545 preschool institutions, 5 vocational colleges, 9 vocational lyceums (vocational education), and 11 colleges (secondary vocational education) operating in the Vitebsk region.
– A few years ago, we agreed with educators that we would systematically optimize schools and kindergartens where it is critically necessary, – explained Nikolai Sherstnev. – At the same time, we must consider every student, listen to parents, and ensure the most convenient and safe transportation of schoolchildren. And all the money saved should be directed only to the development of the education system. The result is already visible.
By the beginning of this academic year, 40 new computer classes (6 last year) and 30 school buses (20 in 2016) have been purchased, with another 19 to come. Due to optimization, we will save 11 million rubles. By next year, it is planned to complete this process entirely and achieve an additional savings of 23 million. For comparison, approximately such funds are allocated from the budget for all agriculture in the Vitebsk region.
The Ideal School
According to the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, a school should be evaluated not so much by its material resources as by its performance results.
– Students should leave school as well-prepared for life as possible, – emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev. – It doesn't matter where they enroll – in a university or a vocational school, but they should be in-demand and competent specialists everywhere. Moreover, conditions must be created in educational institutions so that children can enter higher education institutions without the help of tutors. Modern technologies are also needed – "electronic school" and the like.
The regional pedagogical conference was held under the motto "Efficiency, Systematization, Professionalism – Priorities of the Educational Policy of the Vitebsk Region." The region's educators indeed have something to be proud of. At the final stage of the republican subject olympiads, 70 diplomas were won (the same as last year).
Our students won a silver medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics, and bronze medals at the International Geographical Olympiad for students from the Baltic region and the International Geographical Olympiad.
Results improved following the competition of research papers (conferences) by students in academic subjects – 14 diplomas were won compared to 11 last year. Students from Vitebsk, Gluboksky, Orshansky, Dokshitsky, Lepelsky, and Lioznensky districts achieved 100-point results on the Centralized Test. A graduate of Vitebsk Gymnasium No. 4 received two top scores in chemistry and biology.
At the same time, the region still ranks last in the republic in terms of Centralized Test results. Only in "Social Studies" did graduates of educational institutions show results above the national average.
– It is necessary to analyze the expediency of the functioning of some gymnasiums in the region, – set the task Nikolai Sherstnev. – A gymnasium is an elite educational institution. But a number of them have not produced results for many years – primarily winners of republican subject Olympiads. There is practically no competition for admission to the fifth grades in Beshenkovichi Gymnasium-Boarding School, Braslav and Postavy Gymnasiums, Gymnasium No. 1 of Orsha, and Gymnasium No. 6 of Vitebsk. Next year, the issue of the status of such educational institutions must be resolved. No results – no gymnasium.
During the conference, requirements were announced for creating effective internal control of the quality of the educational process and increasing the efficiency of methodological work at the regional and educational institution levels.
– The demand and responsibility of each subject teacher, class teacher, and the administration of the institution must be individual, – emphasized the chairman of the regional executive committee. – Everyone in their place must be responsible for their work.
Symbiosis with Production
The region's leadership has many complaints about the quality of training for blue-collar workers, who are often far removed from the realities of actual production.
– Business leaders are extremely dissatisfied with graduates of vocational-technical institutions, – noted Nikolai Sherstnev. – Now, for example, a lot of modern imported equipment is being acquired in agriculture, but young specialists do not know how to use it. We retrain machine operators by inviting German specialists. Of course, an educational institution cannot purchase, for example, a forage harvester, but it can provide theory, and organize practical training at a strong enterprise. To create a symbiosis of an educational institution and production.
Nikolai Sherstnev set the task – not only to improve the educational and production base of vocational educational institutions, but also to establish targeted training of specialists based on specific enterprise requests.
– Then production and education will not blame each other, – Nikolai Nikolaevich is confident. – Everyone will be interested in training a highly qualified, and most importantly, in-demand specialist. It is also worth organizing student internships at the most successful enterprises, where a young person can see prospects for growth.
It was repeatedly emphasized at the conference: a rationally organized network of educational institutions is an effective way for children to receive a truly high-quality education, both in the village and in the city. The conditions for this have been created. All that remains is to work. Good luck, educators!
Alexander Kutynko. Photos by Dmitry OSIPOV and Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".