Another 21 schools are reorganized. This was discussed at the board of education department of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee, marking the beginning of the new school year.

Officials call this process "optimize network of educational institutions."

Closing schools is motivated by poor demographic situation in the rural areas. According to the Department of Education, 45% of rural schools - ungraded. The number of pupils in these schools is less than 50 people.Average napavnyalnasts classes in them - only 7 people (in cities, on average - 19.5 students).

Last year, in the Vitebsk region closed 22 schools (8 primary, 12 basic and 2 medium). In total for the last three years, 68 schools were eliminated. And to those that will close this year - 86. In the new academic year in the Vitebsk region will operate 537 schools.

In rural schools, serving approximately 25,000 students in the region. In general, September 1 in the Vitebsk region sit at desks 108,000 students. Of these, over 10,000 - pershaklasniki.

Lessons are also about 14.5 thousand teachers, 580 of them - young professionals, who are in school this year for distribution. The schools will be working and retired, but only where there is a shortage of staff, said the Board of Education. This is especially true in rural schools, where there is a shortage of teachers of mathematics and foreign languages.

Photo detfond.org