The first trial centralized examination proceeded with some apprehension but in a standard operational mode for the teaching staff of the Vitebsk region, reported Elena Bogdanovich, First Deputy Head of the Main Department for Education of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
According to her, all 22 examination points in the region opened on schedule. Teachers ensured the timely arrival of schoolchildren without undue haste. A total of 5,291 children were registered for the examination today, excluding students who were ill, attending the Children's Technopark, or being educated at home:
- We are currently gathering comprehensive information from all regions of the oblast. Based on preliminary data, we can state that the process proceeded in a standard operational mode. All children were admitted to the examination points and found their designated classrooms. The organisers assigned to each classroom performed well. Medical personnel were on duty everywhere. It is understandable that for most of the points that opened today, this was their first experience with the mechanism of organising such events. It is understandable that everyone was feeling some apprehension. However, the monitoring of the situation throughout the day showed that everything proceeded in a calm, working manner. I cannot yet specify any minor issues identified or details requiring further refinement. We will discuss all matters in detail on February 2nd after consolidating the information.
Elena Bogdanovich also noted that significant attention was paid to the transportation of 1,277 rural schoolchildren to the examination points. For this purpose, 99 school buses were utilised. In Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk, the public transport schedules were adjusted for urban schoolchildren whose educational institutions are located more than 500 metres from the centralised examination points.