Kuznetsova noted that the Department of Education is actively working on creating a reserve of personnel for teachers and school directors; however, not all candidates who have passed testing within the framework of civil service are capable of effectively managing educational institutions on a long-term basis. In this regard, she proposed to transfer the issue of training educational leaders to the Department of Education.
The deputy also inquired about the current situation regarding open vacancies for teachers in Bishkek and the department's interaction with pedagogical universities. She suggested considering the possibility of concluding targeted agreements with universities so that graduates would return to work in city schools.
A representative of the Department of Education reported that there are currently 433 open vacancies for teachers and 190 positions for preschool institutions in the capital. Since the beginning of the new school year, the department has signed memorandums with five higher educational institutions: KNU, BGU, the Arabayev Institute, the Ermatov Music and Pedagogical Institute, and the Academy of Physical Culture. As a result, 384 students, combining study and work, have been accepted into positions in educational institutions.
According to the department, there are currently 11 vacancies for school directors and 12 in kindergartens. Applications have already been submitted to the Ministry of Education, and materials are being prepared for the competition for these positions.
The department representative agreed on the necessity of creating a reserve for director positions. He noted that the Ministry of Education is working on changes to the relevant regulations. It was also proposed to introduce a third stage of the competition—a interview, during which candidates would need to present their development programs for the institutions.
Tatiana Kuznetsova expressed her dissatisfaction with the current figures, calling them “not positive, but even distressing.” She emphasized that many parents complain about the absence of certain subjects in the schedule, pointing out the unacceptability of the practice where a physics teacher substitutes for math classes. In her opinion, the introduction of STEM subjects did not solve the problem of staff shortages.
The deputy also raised a question about the program for providing teachers with computers, which the Ministry of Education had reported on. The department representative confirmed that all teachers are 100% equipped with laptops, including the recent provision for primary school teachers. However, when asked about the functionality of these devices and the installed programs, the representative was unable to answer on the spot, promising to provide information later.
Kuznetsova proposed to create a system within the Department of Education for preparing a reserve for managerial personnel. She believes that among the staff of schools and kindergartens are competent specialists interested in the future of their institutions. The deputy suggested conducting surveys and testing to form an internal reserve and organizing targeted training for potential leaders with the help of the department's methodological department.
Additionally, the deputy suggested involving experienced leaders who previously worked in the city’s schools in the training of new directors, to utilize their knowledge and experience in organizing work with parents and creating productive teams. Kuznetsova noted that pedagogical teams have “simply disintegrated” and proposed to form a “club” within the department for preparing future leaders, where experienced specialists could share their skills with newcomers.
The deputy also pointed out that in Bishkek, in addition to 120 municipal schools, there are about 126 private educational institutions operating. She suggested that the department not only approve curricula for private institutions but also involve their teachers in professional development programs, as well as consider the possibility of attracting educators from the private sector to substitute in municipal schools.
