By Vestnik Kavkaza
The leader of Ingushetia has become the first head of the North Caucasus Region to visit Vestnik Kavkaza. Yevkurov has reaffirmed his reputation as the most communicable politician in such a complicated region as the Caucasus. Perhaps Yevkurov’s openness is the basis of many positive moments in Ingushetia. All inhabitants know his cellphone number that they can use to complain about functionaries or ask for advice. Farmers, according to the republican program, will have guaranteed access to the Ingush authorities to solve their problems. The Caucasus values businesslike and accessible authorities, not corrupt and closed ones. Hence the respect for the leader of Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, despite the complicated interethnic differences Ossetians and Ingushetians experienced from radicals who caused tensions between the two peoples. The Ingush leader’s plans to normalize the internal situation in Ingushetia and around it have good chances of success, because it seems that Yevkurov has managed to form a team of like-minded people. The facts indicate that he knows how to solve various complicated problems.
- Are problems of secular education settled in the republic?
- Speaking about secular education, I'd like to emphasize that historically, even in Soviet times, we were lagging behind. This obstacle remained. We have problems with schools and kindergartens. We need more than 200 kindergartens for these children on the waiting list. But we understand that the country's budget is not limitless, and we try to change things even with our republic's meager budget. Our strategy and objective today is to reduce the number of these children. We involve social institutions, family kindergartens, private kindergartens, various forms of education for children. We include 2-3 hours after school for schoolchildren, we had preparatory classes for those children who will go in the first class next year so that they could at least learn letters. We find different options.
Our schools are also significantly behind. We only have 116 schools in the republic. Two of them are private. 67% are operating in 2 shifts. And 15 schools have three shifts. It is a significant load. By the way, I would like to say that with the help and insistence of Olga Golodets, the deputy chairman of the government, a special program has been developed. Thanks to this program, in the last year we have reduced the share of the three-shift system in schools by 10%. We are building schools, allocating funds. We are looking for ways to get out of this situation, so that more and more children could be enrolled in preschools and schools.
- Is there a problem with the higher education? Historically, people went to Ordzhonikidze and Grozny to study.
- Yes. There were no higher education institutions in Ingushetia. Our Ingush State University is 20 years old. We can't talk about a foundation similar to universities with 70-year histories. Nevertheless, our teachers, professors, academicians, higher education employees are quite well-known in the country. There are people who used to teach at Grozny University, they have experience and knowledge. We are finishing building the foundation for contemporary style teaching. In terms of higher education we only have one state university and one private college. We lack a foundation, but so far we are OK with what we have. We'd like to focus on technical professions. This year we supervised the Unified State Exam and believe that 90% of high school graduates who entered universities this year have their brains to thank, as well as their abilities. And I'm sure that they will continue to study hard and will become good professionals. In the past years many had the help of their parents, family ties in entering universities, and of course, corruption played its role as well. Some of them had absolutely no idea about their future profession or university. We are trying to fix this problem now.
It is wrong to say that we have no problems. But again, I must say that even those who entered universities like that are serious about their objectives. Students from our republic studying in other regions represent us well. When they are able to learn basic things, when rectors and teachers tell me that they know little, but are eager to learn day and night, it pleases me. Also if someone gets a firm, well-deserved C. I always tell young people that I was the same, I had a basic, very weak secondary education and that a real C is better than a fake A. You should attempt to study well and have good behavior. Therefore, hope to have maximum control over the Unified State Exam with the help of Rosobrnadzor. There are a number of advantages for these guys. We send able learners to study so that they could subsequently replace people in offices today, we want to create a foundation. We keep those who are not likely to study here, since they could become criminals. We have introduced 800 more places at specialized colleges for people staying in the republic. I've talked to some of them who failed university exams last year and entered specialized colleges due to their low USE scores and they are thankful to me. They study to become turners, welders, fitters, and people of other professions, including confectioners, hairdressers and so on. They get professions which are sought after on construction sites and our other facilities and projects. Therefore, we are helping ourselves in this regard as well. But certainly we are helping our youth so that they can orientate themselves better in life.
To be continued.
