Experts from "Uchitelskaya Gazeta" newspaper ("Teachers' Newspaper") traditionally summarise the results of the year in education. The experts chose Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Education and Science Alexander Shishlov (YABLOKO faction) as "politician of the year 2002 for education". The competitors of Alexander Shishlov were Oleg Smolin, Valentina Matviyenko and even… Vladimir Putin.

According to education experts, unlike communist Ivan Melnikov, his predecessor as Chairman of this Duma committee, Shislov is closer to reformers. However, this factor did not have an impact on his principled position, which often differs from the opinion of the government. The draft concept of the reform for wages of budget workers developed by the Ministry of Labour and sharply criticized by the Committee is the most recent example of such a stance. .

The experts also called "the event of the year" the adoption in the first reading of the draft law "On the State Standard for Comprehensive Education" and the "scandal of the year" an attempt to abolish privileges for village teachers, as well as the vote by the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties against an increase in budget expenditures on education.

Press Service of the State Duma Committee for Education and Science

komitet@rbcmail.ru

See also:
Alexander Shishlov

Reform in Education

Uchitelskaya Gazeta, No 1, 2003. Person of the Year 2002.