Emilia Slabunova: Additional financial aid to teachers will increase the effectiveness of distance learning
Based on Gubernia Daily, 16.04.2020
Emilia Slabunova, MP of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia, member of the Yabloko party’s Federal Political Committee and Honored Teacher of Russia, criticised the education system for failing to organiae distance learning for pupils in self-isolation. The parliamentarian called on officials and deputies of the regional parliament to recognise the obvious fact and to support teachers and parents who encountered difficulties. Slabunova made such a statement at a meeting of the Education Committee of the Legislative Assembly.
“The entire education system did not cope with the organisation of distance learning,” the parliamentarian said. “Therefore, no claims can be made against any particular schools, regional or municipal educational organisations. The distance learning system in its present form can work only for some local tasks, when a child is sick or additional materials need to be provided”.
In particular, the deputy criticised by the lack of a single electronic platform for distance learning, which would satisfy all the needs of children and teachers and allow for solution of educational problems. At the same time, Emilia Slabunova referred to the complaints of teachers: they are dissatisfied with the work of the Bars system, which does not allow them to do basic things, but officials need it for reporting.
The MP called for reassuring parents who were experiencing stress due to poorly organised distance learning, as well as providing material support to teachers. Due to the lack of a normal electronic platform, the need to send and collect tasks in different social networks and instant messengers and select electronic manuals, teachers have switched to a round-the-clock mode and are forced to spend considerable amount of money in order to provide remote work.
“Teachers complain that any phone Internet tariffs end in three or four days [of such work]. In addition, they have to pay for the Internet, the purchase of webcams and other devices. Therefore, they urgently need financial aid. Each teacher in the Republic of Karelia should receive at least 15,000 roubles of support. At the same time, teachers who train pupils for exams in the 9th and 11th grades and provide consultations to children non-stop should receive at least 25,000 roubles in order to compensate for their expenses and intensification of work,” the parliamentarian said.
Emilia Slabunova also stressed that now every region and the whole country need such a programme.
It should be noted that due to the coronavirus pandemic, educational institutions in Russia – schools, universities, colleges – were completely transferred to distance learning in online mode. It is decided to postpone final exams in schools and entrance exams to universities in connection with the epidemic of coronavirus, but they will be conducted in person. The first exam is scheduled for 8 June.
Based on Gubernia Daily
Posted: April 16th, 2020 under Education and Science, Healthcare, Social Policies, The Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of Karelia.