Saratov State University hosted a meeting of Governor of the region Roman Busargin with the target groups taking the courses in training and pedagogical sciences. It was attended by 26 fourth-year students. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Saratov Region – Minister of Education of Saratov Region Mikhail Orlov, Rector Alexei Chumachenko, and vice-rectors.
‘Today, we are talking with teachers-to-be who are starting their professional activities in the target areas. New regional support measures are developed. The heads of municipalities have the task to accompany and support you at the stage of employment, in solving housing issues, and providing social benefits. It is very important for us that the education system is updated, young specialists come to work for us. Now we are experiencing an acute shortage of personnel – only subject teachers in the region today require about 300 people. Therefore, we are actively discussing a solution to this issue,’ Roman Busargin explained, opening the meeting.
According to him, it is significant that the education system will be staffed with young personnel. Especially, as the governor stressed, the shortage of specialists is in remote areas of the region.
‘Now, we are increasing the number of target areas, supporting the target audience with scholarship payments. It is important not only to include you in the system, but also to give you the opportunity to develop in your profession, to feel comfortable in a team,’ Roman Busargin said.
Starting from the new academic year, along with the Rural Teacher programme, the rural teachers programme for attracting teachers to remote areas of the region will begin. It assumes a one-time payment of 1 million roubles to teachers for their work in a rural school for five years. This year, 15 quotas are allocated for this project.
Salaries amounting to at least 80% of the average salary for a school are also provided for young teachers. In schools with a student level of over 20 thousand people, payment for subject training has been introduced. Starting from September 1, a scholarship in the amount of 10 thousand roubles is provided for students-teachers of target areas.
During the conversation, the students of teaching courses told the governor about their plans, hopes, and fears.
Valeria Sharapova, a student of the course in history working at Engels School No. 3, spoke about the importance of mentoring for a young teacher, as well as building relationships with the school administration and parents.
Anastasia Otreschenko, a student of the course in psychology of education and the social sphere, touched on the topic of professional burnout and asked about the support measures provided to educational workers in the region in terms of maintaining physical and mental health.
An important aspect of supporting young teachers, according to the students, is the cultural component. Nadezhda Kuanysheva, a student of the course in foreign languages, is going to work in one of the remote districts of the region and come with her students to Saratov to explore cultural and historical sights. Her question was about the possibility of creating a Teaching Card similar to the Pushkin Card for teachers to visit cultural places in the region.
Ksenia Yermakova, a student of the course in primary education, said about the pedagogical dynasty of her family and her personal teaching experience.
The participants of the meeting were interested in issues of mentoring assistance, the possibility of sharing the experience of young teachers in rural and urban schools, preferential conditions for the purchase of housing, as well as educational modules for young teachers.
‘A teacher or a doctor is not just a profession, but a state of mind. Giving a piece of yourself to children is a special mission that you will definitely cope with. I hope you will never to burn out, always smile, and never give up,’ Roman Busargin encouraged the students.
