The Vitebsk Cadet School was established on the basis of the Luzhesnyan Gymnasium for gifted children

LUZESNYANY GYMNASIUM FOR GIFTED CHILDREN "TRIES ON" CADET UNIFORM

One of the most famous educational institutions in Belarus - the Luzesnyany boarding school-gymnasium for gifted and talented children - is entering the new academic year as the Vitebsk Cadet School. The forge of talented youth will now be training the future elite of the Belarusian army and special units. Will the new type of educational institution manage to gain recognition from students and their parents, as well as preserve the brand of the Luzesnyany Gymnasium, which was associated with the high quality of education of its graduates? Vladimir Shytko, the permanent head of the educational institution, deputy of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, and Honored Teacher of the Republic of Belarus, told a BELTA correspondent about this in an interview.

- Vladimir Vladimirovich, the Luzesnyany boarding school for gifted children is widely known in the country, so the question immediately arises: why did you decide to become a cadet school?

- We took into account several factors. Our educational institution was initially created to work with gifted children from rural areas. Over the 17 years of its existence, almost all districts of the region have established their own gymnasiums, which have small boarding facilities for talented children. In other words, the necessary conditions for unlocking the potential of children are now being created directly on the ground, and many such educational institutions have proven themselves well over the years. So the need to send children to study in Vitebsk has disappeared today. At the same time, we have accumulated rich experience working with children, established good traditions, including in terms of civic and patriotic education, and created an excellent material base for study, recreation, and sports. All this is ideal for organizing a cadet school on our basis, without any additional costs or reorganizations. Moreover, since 2008, we have had cadet classes. As a result, by the decision of the regional executive committee, since June 14, our educational institution has been operating in a new status as the Vitebsk Cadet School.

- What are the specifics of organizing the educational process and how was the first intake?

- In the new status, we have enrolled several classes, with a modest competition, approximately two people per place. It should be noted that now we can actively work with children from cities, whereas previously there was no such opportunity. In the upcoming academic year, we will actively promote the educational institution, and in the future, one should prepare for much higher competition. During admission, the students passed physical fitness tests, mathematics and Russian language exams, underwent a medical examination and a psychological interview. As we can see, we are admitting well-prepared students in all respects who, in the future, want to connect their lives and professional careers with service in the Belarusian army, internal affairs bodies, and emergency situations departments. There are no significant changes expected in the curriculum - we know how to work with gifted children; the only thing that needs to be done is to pay focused attention to the career guidance of students.

During the selection and subsequent training, groups will be formed, conditionally speaking, by specialization areas, i.e., for preparation for admission to educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, etc. Further work with these groups will be organized in close cooperation with these departments. This will allow the students to make an informed professional choice, even if not all of them ultimately wear the uniform. Moreover, based on the results of their studies, the cadet school (I do not exclude this possibility) will not recommend those who are unsuitable for service due to their moral and business qualities for admission to the Military Academy or the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In total, the cadet school has 12 classes with approximately 25 students in each. In the future, we expect to build a dormitory for 200 students with state assistance, and then it can be said that the formation of a full-fledged educational institution will be completed. The construction of the dormitory will make it possible to increase enrollment to 450 students and ultimately use the existing educational and sports facilities most effectively.

- By the way, about the sports facilities. Not so long ago, you intensified your work with gifted young athletes. Will future sports heroes suffer from the change in the status of the educational institution?

- Of course not. We have retained sports-oriented classes, as before, in football, basketball, volleyball, handball, and swimming. By the way, today we can already say that thanks to the focused attention on developing the sports abilities of young people, the Vitebsk region has moved away from the last places in the results of republican spartakiads in team sports. And those young athletes who achieve success have already been given the opportunity, along with studying at universities, to prove themselves in big sports by moving to master teams in team sports. For example, several of our guys have joined the football clubs BATE and Naftan.

We try to utilize the sports facilities to the maximum; even in the summer period, the facilities are not idle. It has become common practice to provide our facilities for training sessions for both Belarusian teams and Russian clubs. For example, athletes from Murmansk are currently training with us. For 11 consecutive years, students from mathematics classes from St. Petersburg have spent their summers in Luzhesno. This summer alone, we will earn over Br300 million from such services; last summer, the result was slightly more modest (Br200 million). These funds are used to strengthen the material base, increase employee salaries, and we also return the funds invested in the development of the boarding school to the state in the form of taxes.

- It might not be easy to get admitted to study here. But how can a teacher get a job with you?

- Over the years, we have formed a good, strong team of both teachers and administrative and technical staff, which is why it is difficult to get a job with us. Working in a boarding school has its peculiarities, as a teacher is responsible for the life and health of a child around the clock. Specialists who not only love children but also see each of them as an individual are valued. I want to note that the team is balanced in terms of gender, with approximately the same number of men and women among the teachers. This is very important, primarily for the educational process, and we strive to create conditions for men to stay in the team. We primarily educate by our own example, both in the educational process and in everyday life.

- It is not difficult to assume that September 1st will be especially solemn for you…

- Yes, we are preparing a colorful performance, in the organization of which we are supported by the regional military commissariat, the command of the 103rd mobile brigade stationed in Vitebsk. Uniforms have been tailored for the boys, identity cards and badges of belonging to the cadet school have been prepared. The educational institution will have its own symbolism - the banner of the Vitebsk Cadet School has already been created and approved by the heraldic council, which will also participate in the ceremony of the beginning of the academic year for the first time. I hope this event will remain in the memory of both our students and their parents for a long time.

And then our new recruits will have a month of adaptation to the new conditions of study and life. And only after the first 30 days within the walls of the school will they be admitted to the ritual of initiation into cadets, and will become full members of our friendly team.

These rituals have great educational significance. It is no secret that today we sometimes make omissions in the patriotic education of the younger generation. Perhaps it is the cadet schools that should become an example, a role model in this direction of work for pedagogical teams, and introduce fresh ideas and methods of work.

- And yet, Vladimir Vladimirovich, a full stop has been put to the history of the Luzhesnyanskaya Gymnasium for gifted children. In your opinion, what can be called the most important result of its work?

Over the 17 years of its existence in this status, the educational institution has trained 1,110 students, and all graduates without exception have become university students. It is also worth mentioning that 15 of our students have won international subject Olympiads in different years, and almost 600 students have achieved success in republican and regional Olympiads. However, I would consider the following to be the most important – over these years, we have proven that under certain conditions, children from rural areas and orphaned children can achieve significant success and are in no way inferior to their peers from cities. Our team of like-minded individuals created the gymnasium virtually from scratch. Today, we see that the potential of rural residents is high, and if a child is worked with, the results will be worthy. Therefore, the most valuable asset is our children, whom we have prepared for independent life.

Sergey Kochetov,
BELTA.-0-