On April 15, Governor of Saratov Region Roman Busargin and SSU Rector Alexei Chumachenko met with participants of the regional olympiad in teaching. More than 250 schoolchildren from all over the region, who in the future want to connect their lives with the teaching profession, gathered in the Assembly Hall of Saratov State University.

Roman Busargin spoke about the regional measures to support teachers-to-be. At the initiative of the governor, the programme to attract teachers to remote areas of the region – Rural Teacher - will start from the new academic year. The implementation of the project involves a one-time payment of 1 million roubles to teachers. Young teachers will have to work five years in schools in remote areas.

From September 1, 2024, students who are taking fee-paying courses in teaching at SSU will be able to receive higher education at the expense of the Saratov Region budget. The support programme concerns graduates of six pedagogical fields (teachers of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, the Russian language and literature, foreign languages, as well as computer science and IT) who have decided to work in district schools. Young teachers will have to work for five years in schools, according to the order of the Ministry of Education of the region.

In addition, starting from the new academic year, target students who are taking courses in teaching will receive an additional scholarship in the amount of 10 thousand roubles at the university and 7 thousand at the pedagogical college in case they pass their exams successfully. A target agreement can be concluded at any stage of training.

‘These are the most important, in our opinion, structural changes ahead from September 1. I hope that they will become a significant stage in the development of education and solving the problem of shortage of teaching staff. You are the strategic personnel pool of Saratov Region. I believe that you will take advantage of these support measures and work in our region,’ Roman Busargin addressed the teachers-to-be.

SSU Rector Alexei Chumachenko drew attention to the role of the university in supporting future teachers. ‘The measures to support teachers taken by the Ministry of Education of the region are extremely important and necessary, and the university plays its role here. We are focused on three areas. Firstly, it is motivation for teaching. As part of the implementation of the Priority 2030 programme, the Virtual Pedagogical Classroom is available at the university. Most of the graduates of the Pedagogical Classroom become students of Saratov State University. Secondly, the university creates an extracurricular teaching environment. We hold many events for young teachers, including the Week of Teaching Training festival and the Step into the Profession pedagogical skills competition. Thirdly, it is the process of education itself. Future teachers are trained by the university teaching staff – professionals of the highest level.’

Alexei Chumachenko recalled that on September 1, 2024, Pedagogical Institute, SSU, will open its doors to its first-year students. ‘At Pedagogical Institute, we will try to do the main thing – to maintain a high level of training of subject students, form a teaching environment, and encourage the applicants and the students to work as teachers. The university has been given more than 400 state-funded places, including 150 for target students. We will be waiting for everyone at the university and do everything to ensure that you become successful teachers,’ the rector addressed the high school students.

‘Teaching is a real profession. It is a calling. And the opportunities provided to students by the regional Ministry of Education together with Saratov State University guarantee graduates employment,’ Roman Busargin said.

The participants of the pedagogical olympiad asked him their questions. The teachers-to-be clarified the rules of admission to the university and the details of target training, as well as learned about the governor’s school years.

The meeting ended with a photo session with the governor – after the general photo, everyone had the opportunity to take a personal photo with Roman Busargin.