Tomsk Duma Speaker in the Federation Council
Moscow, October 11 – Speaker of the Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast Oksana Kozlovskaya delivered a report on the execution of the Presidential Decree
“On measures to implement the national education and science policy” at the session of the Scientific Expert Council under the Chairperson of the Federation Council, on improving availability and quality of education in Russia.
The participants discussed the draft federal law
“On education in the Russian Federation”, the criteria of effectiveness of educational institutions and measures to improve the ratings of leading Russian universities. In her report (which was highly ranked by the Speaker of the Federation Council and the Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of Russia)
Oksana Kozlovskaya covered the main issues which sparked off a lively dispute when discussing the draft federal law on education. She emphasized the consequences and risks the regions would face after the adoption of the law.
The Tomsk Duma Speaker pointed out several approaches to solving the human resources issue in the educational sector such as attracting young professionals and paying salaries which would reflect the important status of teachers. One of the conclusions in her report was that the expenses which the regions have to bear after the law takes effect will lead to dramatic changes in the structure of the regional budgets such as significantly higher current expenditures and curtailed development programs.
Oksana Kozlovskaya made a number of proposals to improve the draft law.
“It is obvious that the federal law on education should be considered as a reform of the whole educational system. Everyone puts high hopes on the law despite the fact that the society has different opinions even after the unprecedented public discussions. The regions understand this and have already taken several responsibilities since education has priority in the socio-economic development in all regions, not only the innovative ones. However, the federal bill is very expensive for the regions. If we really want more effective education, which is the aim of the bill and the Presidential Decrees, we need to develop a financial plan for at least three years to support these fundamental legislative acts. Another aspect to consider: In order to properly implement the law we must immediately begin explaining its ideology, the viewpoints of its authors regarding debatable issues, and the application mechanisms for this law in the regions and in the professional community. It would be more efficient if the authors together with the ministers developed a law execution roadmap and the whole package of by-laws for each educational level including such institutions as pre-schools, schools, secondary vocational schools and universities.”
