On August 26, a strategic session titled the Deficiency of Teaching Staff: Solving Problems took place in Bldg. X of Saratov University. The discussions were held within the regional educational forum titled the PRO. Education 64. Development Vectors. The panel discussion was attended by the Acting Minister of Education of Saratov Region Mikhail Orlov, regional Deputy Minister of Education Irina Chinayeva, SSU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Igor Malinskii, Head of Priority Projects and Programmes Elena Yelina, Chair of the Department of Education Methodology Ekaterina Aleksandrova as well as representatives of municipalities, education experts, and school teachers.
The session was opened by Acting Minister of Education of the region Mikhail Orlov.
‘I would like to note that our ministry as well as the Saratov Regional Institute for the Education Development together with partners represented by the staff of the classical university and the regional Education Workers Union have already developed a programme to overcome the shortage of teaching staff in the education system of Saratov Region for 2022–2025. It would be right to discuss today specific tools to implement these ideas. If there are no good, kind, and attentive teachers, then the school itself does not exist. Digital labs and computers are just a resource. The main thing is that there is a person who can use it. If there is a teacher, other issues will also be resolved,” Mikhail Orlov emphasised in his speech.
Then Deputy Minister Irina Chinayeva commented on plans to organise specialised psychological and pedagogical classes in regional schools. According to her, they have already been formed in four educational organisations of the region – in Balakovo, Saratov, Krasnoarmeiskii and Rtishchevskii districts. By 2022, it is planned to create such classes in other schools of the region.
As part of the next speech, SSU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Igor Malinsii paid attention to targeted admission to the university. And the minister answered that in September a commission for targeted admission to pedagogical specialties would begin to work.
‘The current situation will be analysed considering each municipality and each pedagogical course,” Mikhail Orlov added.
Head of SSU Priority Projects and Programmes Elena Yelina spoke about the university training system of teachers and support of graduates. It was emphasised that the university has an innovative platform to support young teachers.
On August 27, in Star Saratov Lyceum at the forum a cooperation programme was signed to eliminate the shortage of teaching staff. The document was signed by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the region, Saratov University, and the regional organisation of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Russia.