Putin to discuss education reforms at pedagogical congress

MOSCOW, May 31 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
will discuss with teachers problems of russian schools and implementation
of education reforms. According to the government's press service, he will
participate in the VI All-Russian pedagogical meeting on Tuesday.
"The plenary session, where Putin will speak, will become a platform
for discussions with the professional community of problems the schools
are facing, and implementation of education reforms," the press service
said. "The discussion promises to be open, and will involve both
supporters and critics of the reforms, and the key aspect of discussions
is the staff situation in education, situation with schools in villages,
teaching methods, relations between school and society, and others."
One of most important issues for Russian schools is raising the
prestige of a teacher, higher payment for their work.
At the government's meeting on April 4, Putin suggested supporting
from the federal budget improvement of infrastructures for regional
schools /repairing and reconstruction, new equipment and school transport,
new books for libraries, energy saving, raising of teachers' professional
level/ so that local budgets may use funds for raising teachers' wages.
Under the Federal special programme to develop education over
2006-2009 jointly with the Education national project, the country has
worked out basic mechanisms for modernisation of education, has
established a network of innovative educational organisations, has new
education standards.