31 August 2003 15:50
RUSSIA: TEACHERS COULD FACE JOB SHORTAGES IN 2-3 YEARS...
Around 100 Russian schools will not open on 1 September because of unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, First Deputy
Health Minister Gennadi Onishchenko announced on 29 August, lenta.ru reported. Most of these schools are in Krasnoyarsk
and Altai krais, Onishchenko said. Earlier, Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said that 95 percent of schools
are not in compliance with fire-safety regulations. RIA-Novosti reported on 27 August that the number of schoolchildren
in Russia will decline from 15 million in 2001 to 5 million in 2007, according to Education Minister Vladimir Filippov.
Filippov added that the reduction in the number of students in 2-3 years could become a significant social problem for
teachers. He estimated that "approximately 400,000 teachers could lose their jobs." JAC Copyright (c) 2003.
RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
