Rustam Minnikhanov: “Hosting Russian Teacher of the Year competition is an honour for Tatarstan”

On September 25, the Teacher of the Year 2015 national competition opened in Kazan.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Russia Minister of Education Dmitry Livanov, Tatarstan Minister of Education Engel Fattakhov, and other officials took part in an opening ceremony at the Kamal State Academic Theatre.

The ceremony began with a spectacular multimedia prologue telling about the importance of passing knowledge down the generations, after which Livanov and Minnikhanov took the stage.

Livanov welcomed the finalists, remarking the event is taking place on the threshold of the Teacher’s Day, celebrated in Russia on October 5. A teacher from Nurlat (Tatarstan) Alla Golovenkina was voted as Russia’s teacher of the year 2014 that is why the final of the all-Russian competition is held in Kazan, he reminded.

The minister thanked all the finalists, saying they already won in their regions, displaying proficiency. “You are in for a very complex though interesting final stage of the Russian Teacher of the Year. I wish you all success!”

Minnikhanov noted it was an honour for Tatarstan to host the national competition. “The best of the best teachers are here,” he stressed, thanking Alla Golovenkina, in particular. “Had it not been for your victory, this would have never happened. It is important for us to show what our Tatarstan and our capital is. I am sure we will provide every condition for the competition to be interesting and productive. Each of you has passed a selection round – so may the best one win,” Minnikhanov said .

The Teacher of the Year 2015 runs in Kazan between September 24 and October 3, with as many as 78 teachers from all parts of the country taking part in it. The contestants will present a class, an education project, take part in a teacher conference, and will compete for the master teacher title.