The Vitebsk Cadet School was established on the basis of the Luzhesnyanskaya Gymnasium for Gifted Children.

- In our new status, we have enrolled several classes, with a low competition rate of approximately two applicants per place. It should be noted that we can now actively work with children from cities, whereas previously this opportunity was unavailable. In the upcoming academic year, we will actively promote the educational institution, and in the future, one should prepare for a significantly higher competition rate. During admission, students underwent physical fitness tests, mathematics and Russian language examinations, a medical examination, and a psychological interview. As we can see, we are admitting well-prepared individuals in all respects who, in the future, wish to dedicate their lives and professional careers to service in the Belarusian army, internal affairs agencies, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) units. There are no significant changes anticipated in the curriculum; we know how to work with capable children. The only aspect that will require focused attention is career guidance for the students. During the selection and subsequent training, groups will be formed, so to speak, by specialization areas, i.e., for preparation for admission to educational institutions of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the MES, and so forth. Furthermore, we will organize work with these groups in close cooperation with these departments. This will allow the students to make an informed professional choice, even if not all of them ultimately wear epaulettes. Moreover, based on the results of their studies, the Cadet School (and I do not exclude this possibility) will not recommend those who do not meet the moral and professional standards for service to the Military Academy or the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In total, the Cadet School has 12 classes with approximately 25 students in each. In the future, we expect to build a dormitory for 200 places with state assistance, and then it can be said that the formation of a fully-fledged educational institution will be complete. The construction of the dormitory will provide the opportunity to increase enrollment to 450 students and ultimately utilize the existing educational and sports facilities most effectively. - Speaking of sports facilities, you recently intensified your work with athletically gifted children. Will the future sports heroes be disadvantaged by the change in the educational institution's status?- Of course, not. We have retained sports-oriented classes, as before, in football, basketball, volleyball, handball, and swimming. By the way, today we can already say that thanks to the focused attention on developing the sporting abilities of young people, the Vitebsk region has moved away from the last places in the results of republican spartakiads in team sports. And those young athletes who achieve success have already gained the opportunity, along with their university studies, to prove themselves in big sports by joining master teams in team sports. For example, several of our young athletes have joined the football clubs BATE and Naftan. We try to utilize the sports facilities to the maximum; even during the summer period, the facilities are not idle. It has become common practice to provide our facilities for training sessions for both Belarusian teams and Russian clubs. For example, athletes from Murmansk are currently training with us. For 11 consecutive years, students from mathematics classes from Saint Petersburg have spent their summers in Luzhesno. This summer alone, we will earn over Br300 million from such services; last summer, the result was slightly more modest (Br200 million). These funds are used to strengthen the material base, increase employee salaries, and we also return funds invested in the development of the boarding school to the state in the form of taxes. - It might not be easy to enroll in your institution. How can a teacher get a job with you? - Over the years, we have formed a good, strong team of both educators and administrative and technical staff, which is why it is difficult to find employment with us. Working in a boarding school has its peculiarities, as educators are responsible for the life and health of children around the clock. Specialists who not only love children but see each of them as an individual are valued. I would like to note that the team is gender-balanced, with approximately the same number of men and women among the educators. This is very important, primarily for the educational process, and we strive to create conditions for men to remain in the team. We primarily educate by our own example, both in the educational process and in everyday life. - It is not difficult to assume that September 1st will be especially festive for you...- Yes, we are preparing a colourful presentation, in the organisation of which we are supported by the regional military commissariat and the command of the 103rd mobile brigade stationed in Vitebsk. Uniforms have been tailored for the boys, and identity cards and badges of belonging to the cadet school have been prepared. The educational institution will have its own symbols - the banner of the Vitebsk Cadet School has already been created and approved by the heraldic council, and it will also participate in the ceremony for the start of the academic year for the first time. I hope this event will remain in the memory of both our students and their parents for a long time. And then our new recruits will have a month to adapt to the new conditions of study and life. And only after the first 30 days within the walls of the school will they be admitted to the ritual of initiation into cadets and become full members of our friendly team. These rituals have great educational significance. It is no secret that today we sometimes make omissions in the patriotic education of the younger generation. Perhaps it is the cadet schools that should become an example, a role model in this area of work for pedagogical teams, and introduce fresh ideas and methods of work. - And yet, Vladimir Vladimirovich, a full stop has been put to the history of the Luzhesnyanskaya Gymnasium for gifted children. What, in your opinion, can be called the most important result of its work? In the 17 years of its existence in this status, the educational institution has trained 1,110 children, and all graduates without exception have become university students. We can also recall that 15 of our students have become winners of international subject olympiads in different years, and almost 600 children have achieved success in republican and regional olympiads. However, I would call the most important thing this: over these years, we have proved that, given the right conditions, children from rural areas and orphaned children can achieve significant success and are in no way inferior to their peers from cities. Our team of like-minded people created the gymnasium virtually from scratch. Today, we see that the potential of rural residents is high, and if a child is worked with, the result will be worthy. So the most valuable thing is our children, whom we have prepared for independent life. Sergey Kochetkov, BELTA.-0-

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