Based on the Uchitelskaya Gazeta publication, 19.01.2021

Emilia Slabunova. Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

School directors in ten pilot Russian regions will get advisors on moral building and disciplinary work with a rate of pay amounting to 15,000 roubles. This was announced by Minister of Education of Russia Sergei Kravtsov during his meeting with the President on 12 January. Is it feasible to introduce such new position? What might the functions [of such advisors] be? Emilia SLABUNOVA, Honoured Teacher of Russia, member of the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia and member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko, told Uchitelskaya Gazeta about this:

– I cannot find any reasonable grounds for such an innovation. Schools have a deputy director for moral building and disciplinary work, who is responsible for organising it. If a school director needs advice on moral building and strengthening of discipline and organization of such work, then such a director must be fired immediately. Besides, questions should be asked to those who have allowed the appointment of an incompetent specialist to the position of a [school] head.

If, under the position of an adviser, they intend to disguise a controller from the ruling party, a propagandist or representative of the secret services, then it is important to remind that the lawa prohibits activities of political parties in educational institutions, and such practices will only contribute to the degradation of education in the country.

I hope that this “experiment” will be limited to pilot regions and will be short-lived. It has no chance to success.

EMILIA SLABUNOVA

is member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party, Chair of the party in 2015-2019, MP of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Honoured Teacher of Russia