How Medvedev checked the readiness of schools for the new school year

On August 29, Dmitry Medvedev held a conference call with the leaders of the constituent entities of the Federation on the readiness of schools for the new school year. In the videoconference mode, it was discussed whether Russian schools will be able to start work on time and in what condition they are. The issue of ensuring the safety of students was also raised.

According to the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, 95% of educational institutions are ready to start work on September 1. As part of the national project “Our New School”, regional education systems are being modernized: they are repairing premises and supplying new equipment. Overhaul touched more than 6 thousand schools, 63 new ones were rebuilt.

Particular attention was paid to schools in the Krasnodar Territory affected by the flood. About 2.6 billion rubles from the federal budget and 296 million from the local budget were allocated to restore the destroyed buildings. In total, due to the floods in the region, 30 educational institutions needed repairs: 30 schools and 11 kindergartens.

Dmitry Livanov noted the disastrous situation of educational systems in Ingushetia and Dagestan. Many schools work there in two or three shifts, and 88% of institutions are located in buildings that do not meet sanitary standards and fire safety rules. All these factors provoke an increase in social and political tension in these regions and require the adoption of systemic decisions.

The shortage of teachers was estimated at about 17.2 thousand personnel. Basically, there are not enough teachers in physics, mathematics, a foreign language and physical education. The influx of young specialists into schools is expected with an increase in the income of school workers. Dmitry Medvedev set the goal of bringing the salaries of school teachers to the average economy in the region by the end of 2012. The Prime Minister emphasized that the leadership of the constituent entities of the Federation is responsible for solving the task.

The average salary increased by 6 thousand rubles compared to last year: if in 2011 it amounted to 15 thousand rubles, then in 2012 it amounted to 21.4 thousand. According to the regions, they will cope with the task set in the decree and by January 1, 2013 will reach the desired indicators.

On the other hand, the number of first graders is growing, so teachers may need even more. On September 1, 1.3 million first-graders were expected in schools. This figure greatly exceeds the number of students in the ninth and eleventh grades, and this point is important to consider in the future. When planning a school policy, it is necessary to clearly link it with the demography of a particular region.