"Proposing Homeschooling for Provincials: Moscow Residents Express Displeasure over Suggestion by State Duma Speaker to Limit Admission of Provincials to Capital Universities"
In Discussion: Valentina Matviyenko's Proposal for Provincial Students in Moscow Universities
City dwellers and students in regional areas are stirred up by the latest proposal from Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Federation Council, suggesting cutting student intake in capital universities for students from the provinces.
Matviyenko proposes, in a discussion about government-funded student enrollment, to decrease the number of students enrolled in top-tier universities over the next five years. Instead, focus on enrolling students based on their relevant specialties, without exceeding the required numbers. The rest can study locally.
Matviyenko expresses concerns that students from the provinces, once they graduate from Moscow-based universities, often struggle to find employment in their chosen field, leading to a "history of failures." Consequently, it might be better for them to study and work in their native regions.
Many parents of high-school students in Kransoyarsk and others find this statement appalling. Many have been tirelessly preparing their children for the Unified State Exam (EGE) and participating in prestigious Olympiads to secure a spot in Moscow or St. Petersburg universities.
Nadezhda L., a resident of Kransoyarsk, voices her disapproval, stating, "This is blatant discrimination, a violation of human rights - city children seem to have more opportunities just because of their birthplace. Everyone should have equal rights to education. In my opinion, the right to pay for education should be accessible to Kransoyarsk graduates as well, considering the poor quality of education in provincial schools compared to capital ones."
Others simply sigh in disbelief, and some even bring up the fact that Matviyenko herself hails from Shchepetovka but still managed to secure a spot at the Leningrad Institute.
Reacting to the media uproar, representatives of the authorities have weighed in. For instance, Cransoyarsk senator Andreï Klishas clarified that "the sensational statement was made without basis." According to Klishas, Matviyenko did not propose restricting the right for provincial students to gain admission into top universities.
"Let us avoid creating sensations where none exist. At the Federation Council meeting, the discussion revolved around the efficiency of the existing admissions system. Valentina Ilyinichna Matviyenko did not propose restricting the rights of students from regions to attend capital universities," wrote Klishas on social media.
As a reminder, this year's admissions rules are being revised under existing provisions: universities will have to declare in advance how many students will be admitted on a pay-to-study basis. This will undoubtedly impact the number of provincial students who can gain admission into Moscow or St. Petersburg universities.
Photo: DELA
Insights:Matviyenko's proposal for reducing student admissions for students from provinces in top universities could be viewed as part of broader discussions on regional development and decentralization in Russia. Some might support this proposal as a step towards decentralizing educational opportunities and developing regional universities, while others might express concerns about exacerbating regional inequalities and lack of access to high-quality education for students from the provinces. Critics might view this as another example of central control over educational policies.
- This controversy surrounding Valentina Matviyenko's proposal raises questions about the news coverage of regional development and decentralization in Russia, given the potential implications for education and self-development.
- In the realm of general news, the discourse on Valentina Matviyenko's proposal for provincial students in Moscow universities extends to political debates, with some viewing it as a step towards education-and-self-development decentralization, while others see it as a possible exacerbation of regional inequalities.
