Regional Interschool methodological centers

Abstract

The article describes the main principles for the design and functioning of a system of interschool methodological centers. These centers are being created in the framework of «The Computerization of the Education System» project, which is being carried out by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the National Workforce Training Foundation, the World Bank, and the administrations of seven federal regions (Kaluga Region, Krasnoyarsk Region, the Republic of Karelia, Perm Region, Stavropol Region, Khabarovsk Region, Chelyabinsk Region) in 2005—2008. The approaches to the creation of such centers in the regions are described. These approaches take into account the number of education institutions in the region, specific geographic features of the territory (the distance between districts and the regional center, the density of schools). The structure of standard services and technical equipment for each type of center is discussed, as well as staffing issues and the functional roles they should play. The article offers recommendations for the recruitment procedures and for the selection criteria for the organizations to be used as centers, and gives the necessary qualifications for the staff. Special attention is given to the description of the main activities of these centers and approaches to calculating their costs.