R. Minnikhanov welcomes idea to set up specialised centre to train school students for academic competitions

President of Tatarstan, R. Minnikhanov, has today met with winners of international and national subject-specific academic competitions, and with teachers who had trained the students. Other attendees were Tatarstan education minister, Engel Fattakhov, Kazan Federal University rector, Ilshat Gafurov, and president of Tatarstan deputy chief of staff, Alexander Terentiev.
“You have reached great successes, some at the Russian level, others at the international level. This testifies to your great potential, your talent and diligence, although much of your success is the merit of your teachers,” governor said, while making welcoming remarks.
Tatarstan had a strong industry but, most importantly, specialists. According to the governor, the republic was attractive for foreign partners owing to its high intellectual potential.
Kindergartens, schools, universities, mostly the Kazan Federal University, Technology University and Technical University, needed to be developed, the governor went on to say. “They need to create an environment that will allow Tatarstan to be competitive,” R. Minnikhanov said. Gifted young people should be sent to best research centres and advanced training boarding schools, like the IT college and chemical college, need to be built in Tatarstan.
“In general, basic education allows being competitive, but to become a leader, skills are needed that can be obtained from specialised educational establishments,” he enhanced.
The Tatarstan team of school students had over four years ranked first in the Volga Federal District and fourth in Russia, after Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and the Moscow Region, Tatarstan education minister reported. Tatarstan had in 2013 been able to climb up to the third position, retaining leadership in the Volga region and producing 76 winners, he added.
Based on overall achievements in the Russian academic competition between school students and international subject-specific competitions, the honorary title Student of the Year of Tatarstan 2013 was given to a tenth-grade student at school No 122, Nikita Chernega.
To reinforce the achieved success was important, Tatarstan education minister went on to say. “We plan next year, beginning from the 4th grade, to hold a Tatarstan-wide competition in mathematics,” E. Fattakhov reported.
He went on to suggest setting up a specialised centre, to train school students for subject-specific competitions. Tatarstan governor welcomed the idea, saying that besides knowledge, good training was important, to be able to win at such competitions.