Rustam Minnikhanov: “Hosting Russian Teacher of the Year competition is an honour for Tatarstan”

The Teacher of the Year 2015 national competition opened in Kazan earlier in the day. The ceremony took place at Kamal State Academic Theatre.

Dignitaries were Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Russia Education Minister Dmitry Livanov, Tatarstan Education Minister Engel Fattakhov, and other officials.

The opening ceremony began with a spectacular multimedia prologue telling about the importance of passing knowledge down the generations, after which Dmitry LIvanov and Rustam Minnikhanov took the stage.

Dmitry Livanov welcomed the finalists, remarking the event took place shortly before the Teacher’s Day, celebrated in Russia on 5 October. A teacher from Tatarstan’s Nurlat, Alla Golovenkina, had been voted as Russia’s teacher of the year 2014, which was why the competition’s final was held in Kazan, he recalled.

The minister thaked all the finalists, saying they had already won in their regions, displaying proficiency. “You are in for a very complex though interesting final stage of the Russian Teacher of the Year. I wish you all success!”

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov noted it was an honour for Tatarstan to host the national competition. “The best of the best teachers are here,” he stressed, thanking Alla Golovenkina, in particular. “Had it not been for your victory, this would have never happened. It is important for us to show what our Tatarstan and our capital is. I am sure we will provide every condition for the competition to be interesting and productive. Each of you has passed a selection round – so may the best one win,” Rustam Minnikhanov said .

The Teacher of the Year 2015 runs in Kazan between 24 September and 3 October, featuring 78 teachers from all parts of the country. The contestants will present a class, an education project, take part in a teacher conference, and will vie for the master teacher title.