All-Russia People’s Front Forum “Quality education for the country” finished its work on 15 October in Penza. The Forum lasted for 2 days. Outstanding representatives of Russian teaching society discussed important educational issues.
Saratov delegation included Saratov State University Rector, Prof. A.N. Chumachenko, Institute of Philology and Journalism Scientific Advisor, Prof. V.V. Prozorov, Faculty of Pedagogical and Special Needs Education Dean, Prof. R.M. Shamionov and Department of Pedagogy Chair, Associated Prof. E.I. Balakireva.
Forum participants discussed a wide range of questions connected with Russian educational space, teacher’s status and their well-being, school mission, advantages and disadvantages of the Unified State Exam, two-level higher education, and other. Russian Federation President V.V. Putin opened the Forum with his welcoming speech. He heard some suggestions and answered multiple questions.
SSU Rector A.N. Chumachenko participated in round-table discussion on “Education quality evaluation and its development” hosted by Ukhta State Technical University Rector, President’s envoy N.D. Tskhadaia. They discussed the following questions: professional education standards, capital and provincial universities polarization, engineer education quality. The participants made a list of issues that affect badly education quality. On the second day A.N. Chumachenko was elected the speaker of “Economy development: new requirements for education” discussion platform. Results of their work were reported to the President.
Institute of Philology and Journalism Scientific Advisor, Prof. V.V. Prozorov shared his impressions of the Forum: “Our President finds All-Russia People’s Fund discussions very useful. They should be followed by talks with professionals, civil organizations, and parents. We reintroduced composition as an examination form. The Government has to estimate State Exam effectiveness in evaluating teachers work. The Presidents supports the idea of specialist degree reintroduction for some programs. Penza Forum seems very effective. It takes short time for some well-thought idea to get President’s support or implemented straight away”.
Faculty of Pedagogical and Special Needs Education Dean, Prof. R.M. Shamionov participated in discussions on red tape reduction in education, education and teachers’ mission. They talked about reducing the number of reporting documents. The participants suggested putting educational reforms on hold to be able to evaluate the changes introduced in the last 10-20 years. “Forum work is very effective as it gives an opportunity to thoroughly discuss some topical issues”.
Department of Pedagogy Chair E.I. Balakireva worked on “Russian education quality: traditions and development” section and participated in round-table discussion on “Pre-school and school education: who and how to evaluate?”. Her presentation was about school education evaluation approaches. This topic was one of the most popular at the Forum. One of suggestions was to introduce an alternative to Unified State Exam. Also participants suggested returning to 5-years higher education degrees in some disciplines.
A.N. Chumachenko said the Forum helped to specify Russian education issues and problems that require collaborative work on all levels. “I believer some suggestions would be implemented in state policy on education”, said the Rector.
