Alexander Gnezdilov, YABLOKO’s representative in the Youth
Chamber with the Moscow City Duma, will introduce 11 amendments
to the draft law “On Education” which will be examined by
the Chamber on Tuesday, November 30.
Alexander Shishlov, member of YABLOKO’s Bureau and head of
the State Duma Education Committee in 2002 – 2003, and Eugeny
Bunimovich, deputy head of the Moscow YABLOKO, an honoured
teacher of Russia and Ombudsman for Children’s Rights in Moscow,
participated in the development of these amendments.
YABLOKO’s amendments touch on all the stages of education
process in Russia.
Thus, YABLOKO proposes to make pre-school education really
gratuitous and abolish parents’ fees here. The state should
cover these fees so that to implement the provision of Article
43 of the Russian Constitution which guarantees to the Russian
citizens accessibility to the state gratuitous preschool,
secondary and vocational education.
YABLOKO proposes that it is the law and not the government
which should define educational standards.
According to YABLOKO, the law should also stipulate for definite
stipends that should be at least on the subsistence minimum
level.
A legislatively fixed balance between paid and gratuitous
places in the university will help, according to YABLOKO,
to avoid commercialization of the education. YABLOKO also
proposes to introduce a new article on the students’ self-governing
and broaden the article on academic liberties rather than
leaving these issues for universities.
The law should also guarantee the rights of students and
post graduates in case of liquidation or reorganisation of
a university, as well as give an opportunity to the school
teachers and parents to participate in the governing of the
schools.
YABLOKO’s experts say that these 11 amendments as only a
beginning of their work over this fundamental law.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered to the Education
Ministry to organize discussion of the draft law “On Education”
by February 2011 (like was made in the case of the law “On
Police”). Thus organisations and citizens will have an opportunity
to express their opinion on the draft law. However, many experts
note an exremely vague language of the draft law which will
be an obstacle for a public discussion.
See also:
Reform
in Education
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