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Streamlining Classrooms: A New Approach to Teachers' Shortage in Russia
In a bid to tackle the ongoing educator shortage, Russia is contemplating an innovative solution: recruiting students from non-educational fields as temporary teachers. This proposition was recently endorsed by the State Duma during its initial reading. Here's a breakdown of the plan and the debates it's sparked among parliamentarians.
On June 10, the draft bill proposing this shift was presented to the State Duma. Universities can now allow students from their fourth year to commence their teaching careers following additional training as educators. These students will specialize in teaching subjects related to their field of study, such as a chemistry student instructing chemistry. The ultimate goal is to alleviate the teacher deficit, which reached approximately 18,700 vacancies by September 1, 2024, according to the Ministry of Education.
Historically, students were barred from teaching in schools until 2020 when legislation changed to allow future educators to take on the role. Around 35,000 students seized this opportunity, as per Alexander Mazhuga, deputy head of the State Duma's committee on higher education (United Russia).
Not all parliamentarians, however, have embraced the idea. Vladimir Isaakov, deputy chairman of the State Duma's committee on youth policy (CPRF), expressed worries that inexperienced students might find themselves teaching topics they haven't mastered yet. In response, Mr. Mazhuga pointed out that the bill doesn't guarantee student employment; they must still pass an interview where the director assesses their expertise.
Oleg Smolin (CPRF), the first deputy chairman of the State Duma's Higher Education Committee, is equally critical of the initiative. He's concerned about the potential for unqualified teachers and the impact on students' educational experience. Additionally, Smolin argues that students would miss out on specialized subjects in favor of teaching.
On a more hopeful note, the chairman of the State Duma's Higher Education Committee, Sergei Kabychev (SRZP), deemed the bill a "compulsory measure." He attributed the teacher shortage to financial and economic factors and urged the government to boost teachers' salaries and social guarantees. Irina Belaya (ER), the head of the State Duma's Education Committee, echoed this sentiment, stating that the deficit is not due to ideal living conditions but a lack of staff.
Belaya also highlighted that students with superior EGE scores tend to attend specialized universities rather than pedagogical ones. Thus, these students may be proficient in their subjects, making them potentially effective teachers when paired with psychological and pedagogical knowledge. To monitor the implementation and success of the program, parliamentary oversight will be essential, as per Mrs. Belaya.
Offering a comprehensive solution requires addressing both the quantity and quality issues surrounding teachers. Although bringing in students from non-educational fields can help in terms of quantity, quality concerns demand extensive training programs to ensure these new educators reach the same level of proficiency as their educator counterparts.
It's essential to strike a balance between addressing immediate needs and maintaining educational standards. Flexibility, adaptability, and extensive training will be crucial elements in implementing this approach while ensuring continuity in the quality of education in Russia.
- The policy-and-legislation under discussion in the Russian State Duma involves the temporary employment of students from non-educational fields as teachers, a strategy aimed to alleviate the general-news issue of teacher shortage.
- The debates among parliamentarians revolve around the quality of education when students from non-educational fields are recruited as teachers, a concern particularly raised by Oleg Smolin from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).
