Serious changes in the education system are coming in Buryatia. Minister of Education of the Republic Valery Pozdnyakov and senator Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn decided to propose to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation a new model for the construction of educational institutions, which will unite schools and kindergartens “under one roof.” This idea is presented as a measure to optimize resources, especially relevant for regions with low population density.
Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn noted at the meeting that the construction of separate schools and kindergartens in small settlements is too costly and ineffective for subsequent operation.
It is impossible not to pay attention to the symbolic side of the proposal. In Russian culture “roof“has long been a metaphor for power, patronage, and sometimes all-consuming control. Here this word takes on a special meaning: under one roof not only educational institutions are united, but also the destinies of children who, from an early age, find themselves in a closed space, devoid of diversity and opportunities for development.
The implementation of the idea of uniting schools and kindergartens under one roof is taking place against the backdrop of degradation of the educational infrastructure in Buryatia. The closure of schools in villages such as Oymur and Stary Onokhoy threatens the future of hundreds of children. If previously they had the opportunity to get an education in their village, now they are forced to travel long distances or be left without quality education at all.
Residents of the village of Oymur are forced to protest, since the nearest school is 18 kilometers away, which makes the education of their children practically inaccessible. Head teacher Evgeniy Kiberev emphasizes that the court’s decision to close the school caused a wave of discontent among parents, teachers and the community of the village. Transporting 200 people daily over such a distance is no easy task.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that local authorities are in no hurry to fulfill their promises to build new schools. Integrated Rural Development Program initiated by Vladimir Putinis not implemented locally. Instead, officials are proposing solutions that will only work in the long term.
In addition, from September 2024, Rosobrnadzor will use the quality index of general education to assess the effectiveness of educational institutions. The document includes 69 indicators, most of which assess the knowledge of schoolchildren, and some assess the educational environment and human resources potential. For the first time, teacher qualifications are included in the assessment. At first glance, this should improve the quality of education, but in practice this initiative may become just another bureaucratic instrument of pressure on teachers.
The measures taken, as experts note, are aimed more at control than at improving the situation in schools. The teacher’s work must be evaluated by another professional who is able to understand the complexities and nuances of the educational process. However, in the new conditions, teachers will be assessed according to formal criteria, which can lead to demotivation and care of qualified personnel from the education system.
This is especially dangerous for Buryatia, where there has long been a shortage of teachers. Any innovations that add stress to teachers and increase their workload can lead to even greater staff attrition. And without qualified teachers, schools and kindergartens, even united under one roof, will not be able to provide children with a decent education.
It can already be said that educational initiatives require a much deeper and more thoughtful approach than that demonstrated today.
