The modernization of regional systems of education

The modernization of regional systems of education

       The Support of outlying regions is a new area of focus of the Priority National project 'Education' introduced in 2007. The main goal of these fully-fledged projects for the modernization of education is to give all schoolchildren regardless of their place of residence the opportunity to receive a high level of quality of general education. A high quality education means the satisfying of the current and more long term requests and requirements of a person, the society, the state, including social mobility, professional and life success, the physical, psychological and moral health of citizens.

       The fully-fledged projects for the modernization of regional systems of education provide for the introduction of a new system of payment to workers in the general education system, aimed at increasing the income of teachers; the switching to a normative 'per head' financing of general education institutions, the development of a regional system of quality control of education (the provision of the conditions in which children good education regardless of their place of residence) and the enlargement of public involvement in the management of education.

       The winners receive grants from the Federal Budget in order to implement their projects. In 2007, the volume of financing of this area of focus of the National Project will exceed 4 billion rubles. As a whole, the financing of the winning regions is calculated for a period of 3 years on the condition that the subject of the RF performs the obligations taken by it.

       Winners were granted with subsidies from the federal budget for realization of their complex projects. The total volume of means of the federal budget for realization of complex project of modernization of education (CPME) in 2007 was 4,05 billion rubles, in 2008 - 5,9 billion rubles. The total volume of regional co-financing the CPME in 2007 was 7,7 billion rubles, in 2008 - 15,3 billion rubles.

       In January-May of 2007 there was the first contest of the Russian Federation's subjects, which introduce complex projects of modernization of education. Applications from 53 Russian Federation's subjects were sent to the contest, 51 applications were admitted for expertise. By the decision of the contest commission on the basis of discussing the results of the expertise, by secret voting, 21 Russian Federation's subjects were selected for receiving state support for realization of complex projects of modernization of education in 2007-2009. In the selected regions 4,2 million schoolchildren study, which is around 30% of pupils, studying in institutions of general education of the Russian Federation. Besides, to the three Russian Federation's subjects - participants of the selection (Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tyumen region) - the contest commission gave the status of winners-consultants, which means usage of their experience and possibilities at methodical accompaniment of realization of complex projects of modernization of education.

       In November, 2007, the second contest of region started, at which applications from 33 Russian Federation's subjects were received, 31 applications were admitted to expertise. After discussion of the presented regional complex projects at the meeting of the contest commission a secret voting was conducted, by the results of which 10 regions-winners of the second contest were determined. They received co-financing from the federal budget for realization of the presented projects in 2008-2009.

       In spite of different starting capabilities all regions-winners took obligations on ensuring modern conditions for not less than 70% schoolchildren by the end of the project (2009). It is planned that this index will exceed 90% in the Republic of Mordovia, Novosibirsk and Sverdlovsk regions.

       In the upshot of realization of the national project it was planned to bring a share of pupils, which study in conditions, completely meeting with the modern requirements, up to 70%. For example, equipment of schools with educational outfit was in 2 years increased from 4% to 24% of requirements. In two years about 6 thousand basic schools were created and equipped in the "pilot regions".

       The positive changes of institutional character concern elaboration and admission of regulatory base, which ensures the system and legitimate character of innovations. The fulfillment by the Russian Federation's subjects, which introduce CPME, the obligations let receive a noticeable effect already in 2007. In particular, at the expense of introduction of the new system of remuneration of labor from the beginning of 2007/2008 school year in pilot schools of the Russian Federation's subjects, which introduce CPME, the teachers' salary was increased in average in not less than 25%. The salary of the most qualitatively working teachers was considerably increased - in more than 80%. In average, the share of such teachers in all "pilot" schools is around 15%.