About 30 educational facilities will be built in the Vitebsk region over the five-year period

August 23, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. About 30 education system facilities are planned to be built in the Vitebsk region in 2011-2015. This was announced today at the regional pedagogical conference by the head of the education department of the regional executive committee Ivan Shchurok, BELTA correspondent reports.

This year, the construction of about 20 facilities, including kindergartens and extensions to general education schools, with a total cost of over Br38.8 billion is being completed, and construction is planned to begin. Thus, by September 1, the construction of the building and stadium of secondary school No. 18 in Polotsk and the primary school block of Glubokoye school No. 1 will be completed. This year, a cultural and leisure center will be built at the "Zhemchuzhina" children's rehabilitation and health center (Lepel district), and two residential buildings for families raising orphans and children left without parental care. Reconstruction of the stadium in Glubokoye is also underway.

All schools in the region are ready to receive students, with the exception of three educational institutions - here, significant repair work will be completed by September 1. "The beginning of the new academic year in the region will be organized," stated Ivan Shchurok. In total, about Br25 billion was allocated for the preparation of educational facilities for the academic year in the region, including Br2 billion from basic enterprises, sponsoring organizations, and the parent community. Mainly cosmetic repairs were carried out at the education system facilities, however, in some institutions, extensive repair work was performed, including heating systems, boiler houses, and over 15 thousand square meters of roofing were repaired. "The creation of a modern material and technical base is a prerequisite for the dynamic development of the education system and the improvement of its quality," Ivan Shchurok is confident.

A total of 559 secondary schools will operate in the region, with 31 educational institutions reorganized and a decision made to close 24 small schools. The estimated cost savings from the reorganization of the education network will be around Br2 billion. Issues related to the employment of teachers, the transportation of children to schools, and the future of the vacated buildings and structures have been resolved. "This is not a painless process, affecting not only citizens but also the economy of rural areas, so it is necessary to forecast all aspects in detail, create the necessary conditions, and only then make decisions," emphasized Ivan Shchurok.

On September 1, the academic year will begin for almost 110,000 children and adolescents in the Vitebsk region, including about 11,000 first-graders who will start school. -0-