In Irkutsk, from February 1 to September 5, enrollment in first grade is underway, and the city administration assures there will be enough school places for all future students. Parents were reminded of the required documents, age requirements, and that exams and tests for first graders are not allowed. In addition, the city is already preparing for growth in the number of schoolchildren, as even more first graders are expected in the coming years, so new school blocks are planned.
From February 1 to September 5, enrollment in first grade is being carried out in Irkutsk schools. This was announced at a press conference by the head of the Department of Education of the Irkutsk City Administration, Valentina Peregudova.“I want to warn parents right away so that there is no frenzy: there are enough general education institutions in Irkutsk, and as many first-grade classes will be organized as children are admitted. No one will be left without a school or a teacher,” Valentina Peregudova noted. “If parents are unjustifiably refused admission of their child to first grade, they should contact the city Department of Education by phone at 52-01-71.”
According to preliminary data, on September 1, 2015, more than 7,500 first-graders will come to the schools of the regional center. Currently, 7,850 first-graders are studying in Irkutsk schools.
To enroll a child in first grade, a personal application from the parents (legal representatives), a copy of the child’s birth certificate, and the original document, a copy of the child’s registration certificate at the place of residence or place of stay in the assigned territory, are required. Foreign citizens or stateless persons wishing to enroll their children in school must additionally present documents confirming their relationship to the child or their right to represent the child’s interests, and a document proving that the applicant is legally in Russia. All documents must be submitted in Russian. The translation must be certified in the prescribed manner.
With these documents, parents should go to the head of the educational institution during office hours. It should be remembered that all children who have reached the age of six years and six months by September 1, but are not older than 8 years, are admitted to first grade.
During the press conference, the question was raised: do schools have the right to conduct exams and testing to determine the level of knowledge of a future first-grader? Valentina Peregudova stated that organizing such tests in educational institutions is unacceptable: “With the consent of the parents, a teacher or psychologist may interview the child, but solely for the purpose of planning the upcoming educational work.”
Valentina Peregudova also emphasized that in recent years Irkutsk has seen a high birth rate growth. In this regard, a significant increase in the number of first-graders should be expected in 2018-2020. The city administration is already taking measures to solve the problem of overcrowded schools. This year it is planned to begin construction of a new block for School No. 66 and a school on Bagration Street. The mayor’s office also plans to begin construction of a new block for School No. 64 in 2016.
Based on materials from the press service of the Irkutsk City Administration.