Being a teacher is prestigious
According to the preliminary results of the 2025 admissions campaign, the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov notes a significant increase in the interest of applicants in pedagogical education programs. Thus, the competition for budget places in a number of specialties (especially primary education, primary education and children’s robotics) reached 5-7 people per place and higher.
The average Unified State Exam score for those admitted to the budget in pedagogical areas increased to 213 points. This confirms that the teaching profession is becoming increasingly attractive to young people.
According to Olga Mikhaylenko, Director of the Institute of Pedagogy, Psychology and Physical Culture and Sports Education (IPPiFSO) at KBSU, such a positive trend is due to several key factors:
– state support programs such as «Zemsky Teacher» are in place, as well as social support measures, including mortgage holidays and benefits that make the profession more accessible and attractive;
– the prestige of the profession has increased: society is beginning to realize the importance of quality education and the significance of the role of teachers in shaping future generations;
– teachers remain highly sought-after specialists in the labor market, especially in the regions;
– development of the educational environment at KBSU. Improvement of the institute’s material base, advanced training of the faculty and graduates.
«The institute produces qualified primary school teachers, psychologists and specialists in additional education. As part of the continuous development and desire to improve the educational process at the KBSU IPPiFSO, a new joint master’s program of two diplomas of KBSU and the Higher School of Economics (HSE) «Pedagogical Education and Human Development» will be launched in 2025, which will allow students to gain unique experience and knowledge, become sought-after specialists in the labor market,» says Olga Mikhailenko.
Within the framework of the «Pedagogical Education» direction, updated profiles with an enhanced IT component and in-depth training in the field of EdTech are being introduced. Students can choose specializations in physics and mathematics or chemistry and biology, which allows them to delve deeper into the scientific areas of interest to them.
«Students are actively involved in scientific activities. They participate in student scientific circles, conferences of various levels and become winners of research competitions. In collaboration with their academic supervisors, the students implement projects, provide psychological and pedagogical support to specialized classes, and conduct research as part of their internships in schools and kindergartens. This interaction ensures practice-oriented training and high graduate employment rates, exceeding 89%,” notes Mikhailenko.
KBSU graduates make up the bulk of subject teachers in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The university offers a variety of educational programs through five institutes and a pedagogical college, which allows it to cover a wide range of areas and specializations, effectively responding to the region’s needs for qualified specialists.