On August 8, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. More than half of the schools in the Vitebsk region have already received readiness certificates for the new academic year, Ivan Shchurok, head of the education department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, told a BELTA correspondent. Currently, out of 537 educational institutions in the region, 306, or 57%, are ready to open their doors to students on September 1. The most extensive school inspection process will take place throughout the current week, with the aim of fully resolving this issue by August 15. At present, this process is proceeding without disruptions. For instance, schools in the regional center were among the first to receive readiness certificates, and other regions of the Dvina area are now actively engaged in this process. "I am pleased with the progress of the inspections in Gluboksky, Lioznensky, Beshenkovichsky, Orshansky, and Verkhnedvinsky districts," stated Ivan Shchurok, adding that a final meeting of heads of education departments and educational institutions on the readiness of schools and the organization of the educational process in 2012/2013 will be held in Vitebsk on August 21. Br55 billion was allocated for the preparation of schools in the Vitebsk region this year, of which approximately Br43 billion has already been utilized. Funds have been directed towards renovation work, replacement of window units, roof reconstruction, the purchase of 26 new buses for student transportation, and the acquisition of sports and educational equipment. Local authorities, as well as parents and teachers, have also provided significant assistance in preparing the schools. Regarding the opening of new facilities, the head of the education department noted that by the new academic year, the region plans to commission a sports hall and a canteen at the Orekhovskaya Secondary School in the Orshansky district, and a kindergarten in the Bilevo microdistrict of the regional center. "The readiness level of these facilities is high, so there is every chance to hold their grand opening on September 1," he added. Low-income and large families in the region have also not been overlooked during the preparation process. The education department is actively collecting information on those in need of support. To date, families in these categories have already received financial assistance exceeding Br1 billion for the purchase of textbooks, stationery, and school uniforms.

BELTA