Vitebsk Honors Top Education Workers in the Region
The August conference is the start of a new academic year. It is not only a summary of results but also the definition of the main tasks and directions that will need to be addressed. The head of the region outlined the range of issues that should be prioritized in the new academic year. These include the safety of children and the improvement of the educational process to form well-rounded citizens. Every year, the educational process in the Vitebsk region is improving, as evidenced by the test results, and they are impressive.
It is worth noting that in the past academic year, about 10,000 students in grades 6-9 took part in regional subject Olympiads organized by the regional institute for the development of education. The regional stage of the republican subject Olympiad was held at a high organizational level, and at the final stage, students from the region received 124 diplomas, taking second place in the republic.
By the way, in 2021, the regional executive committee and the Council of Deputies allocated 558 thousand rubles to stimulate gifted students, educators, and educational institutions.
The schools of the future, which originated in our region, into which huge funds are invested and where the material and technical base is developed, must work for the final result. The Department of Education should think about giving a certain status to such schools, emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev.
In general, the region's education system, comprising 321 institutions, is ready for the new academic year, noted Dmitry Khoma, Head of the Education Department of the Regional Executive Committee, in his report. The material and technical base is developing, with over 23 million rubles planned for its strengthening from the regional budget and over 25 million rubles from World Bank funds. An additional 1 million 637 thousand rubles have been allocated from sponsoring enterprises, boards of trustees, and sponsors. Significant attention is paid to equipping classrooms and workshops with modern equipment and teaching aids. With funds from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, schools in the region have received 74 physics classrooms, 78 chemistry classrooms, 30 biology classrooms, 397 interactive whiteboards, and 500 computers.
In the context of reduced budget funding, the role of extra-budgetary activities is increasing. Over the past seven months of the current year, its growth was 137% compared to the same period last year. An increasing number of vocational education institutions are undertaking significant construction work on their own, without the use of budget funds, emphasized the speaker. Such experience is demonstrated by Secondary School No. 15 in Baran, No. 8 and No. 11 in Orsha, No. 16 in Polotsk, No. 1 in Novolukoml, P. Masherov Rossonskaya Secondary School, and No. 4 in Chashniki, among others.
33 buses have been acquired to organize student transportation in rural areas.
The speaker also addressed the challenges faced. For instance, in preschool educational institutions, actual expenses are becoming particularly relevant with the implementation of the normative planning method, and these expenses exceed previously planned amounts in 17 districts of the region. Forecasts indicate that the funding deficit for preschool educational institutions in 2022 will exceed 6 million rubles. One of the reasons, as noted by the speaker, is the decrease in the number of children. Over three years, the birth rate in the region has decreased by 2.5 thousand, the number of pupils in preschool educational institutions has decreased by 3.9% (approximately 2 thousand), and the coverage of children in rural areas is only 51.5%. According to these indicators, our region is at the bottom of the republic's regions.
In the new academic year, 504 institutions will provide preschool education, with their network reduced by 23. However, the optimization should not affect the quality of education, the health-saving environment, or the creation of equal conditions for the education and upbringing of urban and rural children, including those with psychophysical development peculiarities and children with disabilities, the speaker emphasized.
The upbringing of the younger generation and the formation of an integral personality capable of adequately perceiving real events and defending the interests of the state remain a priority, emphasized Dmitry Khoma. In this vein, educators, deputies, and law enforcement officers work together. In the Year of National Unity, the unity of all participants in the educational process is more important than ever. A set of measures has been implemented to involve youth in socially significant public activities. Positive experience in this area has been accumulated in the Polotsk and Orsha regions, and in higher education institutions.
In the new academic year, it is planned to implement a pilot project for organizing excursions for students in grades 10-11. It is aimed at involving students in tourist and local history activities aimed at acquiring and systematizing knowledge about the sights of Belarus and fostering respect for the cultural and historical heritage of their people.
The conference concluded with the awarding of Certificates of Honor and letters of gratitude to the best employees of the education system.
"Vitebskiye Vesti".