An Honest Conversation About School. A Major Interview with Elena Bogdanovich, First Deputy Head of the Main Department for Education of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee

Is it true that you can't pass the Centralized Exam without tutors? How is the region solving the problem of "overcrowded" schools in new buildings? And why is a grade for behavior in the 10th grade now as important as the average score? Elena Bogdanovich, First Deputy Head of the Main Education Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, answered these and other questions on the eve of the end of the academic year.

– Elena Leonidovna, when you enter a school, what do you pay attention to first? Does your view as a head of the education sector coincide with a parent's view?

– When I enter an educational institution, I look at and assess the situation as a mother, and then as an official. First of all, I pay attention to the psychological atmosphere: how students and teachers react to a visitor, what mood they are in, whether children and teachers greet the visitor. I always study what is on the walls and stands of the school: besides official information, are there live photos from holidays, events, a Hall of Fame, and is it updated? These details form the first impression of the school.

– The admission of documents to the first grades will start soon. Are there any problems with enrolling children in schools in densely populated areas of Vitebsk and the region?

– Microdistricts are assigned to each educational institution by decision of the local executive committee. Therefore, all children who plan to enter the first grade and live in the assigned microdistrict will be enrolled. Parents whose children do not live in this area have the opportunity to make an appointment with the principal and leave an application for enrollment in the first grades. This application will be considered after August 17 in the order of enrollment of children living in the microdistrict. Up-to-date information will be posted and regularly updated on the websites of educational institutions.

– What fears, in your opinion, do parents of future first-graders face?

– How the child will be accepted at school. Parents should understand that in the first grade, the child is still undergoing school preparation throughout September. As part of the "Introduction to School Life" course, children get acquainted with the school, classmates, and the territory. In the first half of the year, it is not recommended to enroll children in clubs or sections, because adaptation takes place during this period. It is important for children to get enough sleep during this period. And from the second half of the year, you can enroll your child in various clubs, sections, and attend events with them.

- For admission to the 10th specialized class, not only the average grade (7 points or higher) is important now, but also the absence of a unsatisfactory grade for behavior. How much do these criteria help to weed out random people in specialized groups?

- The third stage of education is focused on the fact that students, upon graduating from the 10th and 11th grades, will enter universities. Therefore, they must have a civic position and a high level of self-discipline. That is why the characteristic is important. Specialized classes can be either professionally oriented or simply specialized classes. The coverage of specialized education reaches up to 90%. Basic classes are more of an exception in the Vitebsk region than a practice.

– What profiles are most popular among young people?

– The highest demand is observed in the physics and mathematics, and chemistry and biology fields. These profiles will be in the greatest demand because we live in the age of information and computer technologies, and artificial intelligence is developing. Students also often choose the humanitarian profile, which is also in demand.

 

– There is an opinion that it is almost impossible to pass the CE with a high score without tutors. Why is this happening? What is being done to ensure that school lessons and electives are sufficient for university admission?

– The opinion that it is impossible to pass the CE without tutors is rather mistaken, because the CE program corresponds to the curriculum of the third stage of education. Therefore, depending on how diligently the student has worked over the last two years and how correctly they have chosen their profile, the CE result will depend on it. Those who are not confident in themselves and believe that a tutor, like a wizard, can give the coveted 100 points have the right to their opinion.

– It is no secret that schools and gymnasiums compete in ratings for the number of 100-point scorers and diplomas. But are ordinary students, who need solid knowledge, attention, and support but do not strive for records, lost in the pursuit of ratings?

– High results at republican olympiads and scientific-practical conferences are the face of the region, the level of training of children and educators, and parental support. Behind these numbers lies the enormous work of students, the teaching staff, and parents. We are proud of these students and are ready to support and help them, because these talented children will advance Belarusian science in the future. As for the average students. There are now so many competitions that everyone can find their niche and realize themselves. If we talk about the results of the third stage of education, they are quite high in the Vitebsk region. This indicates the overall high level of training of our children, which we are proud of.

– How are young teachers retained in rural areas? Many parents are concerned that experienced teachers are retiring, and young ones do not stay after their distribution. In your opinion, what needs to be done to ensure that young specialists stay to work for a long time and love their job?

- Annually, about 500 young specialists are sent to educational institutions of the region. The percentage of their retention at their first job is 70%. For a young specialist to continue working at their first job after completing the required period, it is necessary to create conditions for professional growth so that they feel needed, important, and indispensable. For this purpose, mentor teachers are assigned to them. VOIRO conducts a series of methodological events specifically for young specialists. We pay great attention to the targeted training of teachers.

– Last year, the Vitebsk region had 185 100-point results on the CE. In your opinion, what is the secret of the success of the Vitebsk school?

– Successful CE performance includes three components: the teacher, the student, and their phenomenal diligence. Studying is daily meticulous work. The more effort a student puts in, the higher their result will be.

– On the eve of the end of the academic year, what words do you want to address to schoolchildren, teachers, and parents?

– To future first-graders and schoolchildren, I want to say that school is always waiting for them, it is a place where they will find many interesting things, develop their talents, and additional education institutions await them. I wish the graduates to get their desired scores on the CE and CT. Thank you to the teachers and technical staff for creating conditions for the creative growth and development of children throughout the academic year. I thank the parents for accompanying and supporting the children, helping the pedagogical staff solve professional tasks and develop children's creative abilities. I wish everyone health, well-being, and may peace, creation, and love reign in your families.

Quick poll:

– What is your favorite school subject?

– I specialize in teaching chemistry and biology, and I graduated from the Vitebsk State Pedagogical Institute named after S. Kirov. Chemistry is the science of the future, and biology is the science of life. These are my favorite subjects. My chemistry and biology teacher, Kovalenko Iosif Ivanovich, taught the subject at a high level. He made chemistry lessons lessons of magic; each lesson was accompanied by demonstration experiments, and we eagerly awaited them.

– What inspires you the most?

– When I see how talented and unique our children are at events, it gives me wings. I understand that the effort invested in the younger generation is not in vain.

– What is the main goal of a school?

– A school should teach a child to learn, to interact with this world, to set goals and achieve them. Behavior, communication, and character development happen at school. The core that a child will rely on throughout their life is laid precisely at school.

"Vitebskiye Vesti"