Students' philosophy and political science classes to be reduced by half?
Teachers are worried about the possibility of dismissal of redundant staff after the 4-year curriculum is introduced.
“It is too early to discuss it. However, September is close. And they are planning to introduce the 4-year curriculum”, - notes the President’s Academy of Public Administration. The new academic year will begin in four months! Will they manage to draw up new syllabuses by then?
For example, students of the University of Culture will have the number of lectures in philosophy, political science and economics reduced by half.
“The bloc of social and humanitarian disciplines will be reduced. It will affect philosophy, political science and economics. The Belarusian and foreign languages will not be affected; they will be moved to another bloc. According to the old standards, the social and humanitarian bloc could take 670 hours. It will take 340 now. The same will be applied to self-education hours”, - explained Raisa Rovina, candidate of science from the University of Culture, to Euroradio.
At the end of March BelTA referred to Minister of Education Syarhei Maskevich and promised: “the majority” of universities will use the 4-eyar curriculum as of September 1. However, the Ministry has mentioned only two universities in an interview with Euroradio: the University of Culture and Arts and the President’s Academy of Public Administration.
Teachers are worried about possible dismissals, but they are being set at ease.
“Some teachers may be dismissed. It depends on the way the university introduces the system. It can do it the way nothing will be changed”, - notes the Republican Higher School Institute.
But teachers worry: if there are fewer classes, there will be less work…
“There are staff teachers and part-time ones. There are those who have to lecture for a set number of hours – like 240 hours. They may be made redundant first, and staff teachers will stay”, - explains the BNTU chair of political science.
They say that there will be new curriculums on September 1. The hours will reduced by half, - worries Alyaksandr, teacher of philosophy. – I met students once a week and I will be doing it once a fortnight – and it will affect both lectures and practical training”.
A senior university teacher makes about 2 millions a month now. The sum depends on the number of classes, says Alyaksandr.
Photo by: flickr.com
