A shift of educators in Kaunas district responsibly and creatively

The attractiveness of the profession is increasing

The conference was organized by VMU Education Academy and Kaunas District Education Center. « Kaunas District Education Center, as an educators ‘qualification institution, is working closely with the VMU Academy of Education in the preparation of teachers’ qualification programs and continuing training for district teachers.

Kaunas District Municipality allocates 10 thousand. This provides excellent conditions for organizing attractive, motivating and quality events for students of this club. « Pedagogical psychological lectures, trips to the district and country innovative educational institutions, meetings with scientists, educational politicians, teachers experts, workshops, camps, practices attract new members each year. kindergarten, ”said L. Ruzgienė.

Pupils are selected for the club during an informal interview in schools, taking into account their professional needs and learning achievements – the average should be at least 7 points.

According to the director of Kaunas District Education Center, the increasing number of participating pupils of the district schools and the results of the entry into pedagogical studies are evidenced by the increase in the activities of this club and the attractiveness of the teaching profession. 2022 37 students participated in the club’s activities. In the fall, the number increased to 53.

Lina Kaminskienė / Photo by Personal Archive

What awaits the young educator?

Emilija Miniotaitė, a graduate student of VMU Ugne Gymnasium, is one of 53 students attending a young educator this school year. Analyzing the importance of the club’s activities, the gymnast emphasized the monitoring of lessons and conversations with the teachers – in the words of Emilia, a practical experience that allows for a better understanding of what awaits the teacher’s daily life, the opportunity to reflect and learn from others, and direct familiarity with pedagogy, kindergarten and school activities can inspire and give motivation. « Activities with theater actors help to acquire additional skills in useful in pedagogical activities, » said E. Miniotaitė.

VMU Ugne Karvelis gymnast at the conference gave a presentation with an intriguing title: « What awaits the young educator: Oscar statue or gray everyday? »

After providing the teacher -actor’s interfaces, the necessary qualities to the teacher and the help of a young educator club in order to achieve Oscar figurines, the gymnast summarized: « If there were awards for patience, dedication and inspiration, the educator would have long gathered all the Oscars. » His scene is a class, its scenario is life lessons, and the award is the success of the students. Although shiny statues may not be present, the true honor lies in the knowledge of knowledge and the hearts he touches. ”

Laimutė Ruzgienė / Photo by Personal Archive

Not everyone chooses

According to L. Ruzgienė, not all students participating in this club choose the teacher’s path: this is determined by both the results of the final exams and the self -evaluation, whether they would really like to be a teacher. « However, we will be waiting for those who have joined and completed pedagogy to return to the district schools, » the headmaster said.

2023 Out of the eleven -year -olds, eight pupils gathered, six students joined, and four from nine last year.

Asked if such results were expected, L. Ruzgienė assured: “Expect to work, if there is no purpose. The teacher’s image and we will improve the attractiveness of the teacher’s work, and in the schools both teachers and young professionals will be waiting for students. ”

« I really want to distinguish the contribution of Kaunas district to initiatives that are both new and have been tested in the past. Young educators clubs operated 15-20 years ago, but today they have restored and operate on another principle. These are non -formal education initiatives that include not only students themselves, university, Kaunas district education center but also school communities. At the same time, this initiative is the opportunity to discover young people’s leadership. dr. Lina Kaminskienė.

Today, we have to talk about our true vocation, why it is good to work as a teacher.

The solution is spontaneously not born

According to the professor, the decision to become a teacher is not born spontaneously. « This is an area we have to reveal to children on the other side, » says the Chancellor of the VMU Academy of Education. Therefore, the VMU Academy of Education presented a new campaign to encourage young people to choose the path of educator and not give in to stereotypes. « Hundreds of tutors, and you become a teacher. Listen to the voice of the heart and study pedagogy at the VMU Academy of Education in Vilnius and Kaunas, » is a message from an advertising campaign.

« A survey of Bachelor’s students in the field of education conducted by the VMU Academy of Education revealed that as many as a third of the students were trying to dissuade the teacher from the teacher, and 40 % said they were discouraged by teachers from pedagogical studies, » said L. Kaminskienė.

According to the Chancellor of the Academy of Education, the results of the survey showed that parents often encourage children to choose more prestigious or better paid professions. « My father wanted me to study where I would earn more later », « my parents wanted me to choose a study that was of interest to me that would ensure the workplace and a good salary », « encouraged me to choose the one that has demand and confidence, » said L. Kaminskienė. In her words, most students mentioned that parents suggested them to choose the right, medical science, engineering or IT field.

According to VMU spokeswoman, this problem has been prevalent for many years, so they wanted to reach a broader young people with a new bright, engaging, modern campaign and her message. « We wanted to encourage young people and break all the stereotypes about the teaching profession in the media, society and education. Today, we must talk about our true vocation, why it is good to work as a teacher, » the professor said.

Campaign expectations – In the coming years, increase the number of entrants (youngsters aged 18-20, who have just come from the school bench) to a pedagogical study of 20-30 %, improve the image of the teacher’s profession among students, and forces parents, teachers and loved ones to think and allow children to listen to their heart.

Guess: Perhaps these young people are future educators. / Photo by organizers

Worked purposefully

The leaders of Kaunas District Municipality have been working purposefully for years to keep the teachers in schools in schools to consistently grow a shift.

Jolanta Jankauskienė, Deputy Head of the Culture, Education and Sports Division of Kaunas District Municipality, told Kauno diena that information is currently being collected from schools about the need for teachers from 2025. September 1 « We estimate that a total of about 50 teachers will be needed: the most – about fifteen – preschool, ten in primary education, nine – mathematics, three – Lithuanian language and literature, three – foreign languages ​​and ten other subjects and student assistance, » said J. Jankauskienė.

We will wait for the students to return to the district schools.

And here are the statistics about the Deputy Head of the Culture, Education and Sports Division of Pakaunė Teachers’ Age. In her words, the age of the teachers is slightly young. « The average age of educators in Kaunas district is 50.07 years (50.74 in the country).

In order to attract teachers, Kaunas District Municipality since 2022 September allocates funds for the purchase of training tools, compensates for travel to work and back costs of pedagogical staff who live more than 5 km. « According to the program of training, retraining and attraction to Kaunas district, 76 people were funded in four years, and they have the conditions to acquire the qualification of the subject matter.

It is expected that the activities of the young educator club will soon produce results – eleven graduates who attended him have chosen pedagogy studies and three of them have decided to return to Kaunas district after graduation.

Jolanta Jankauskienė / Photo by organizers

DI will not change the teacher

I asked the Chancellor of the VMU Academy of Education – could a teacher be replaced by a robot, an artificial intelligence (DI) decision?

According to the professor, DI, robots come to the aid of teachers in the creation of tasks, developing students’ creativity, critical thinking, and there are already research on the subject, personalizing the educational process.

« However, DI will not replace the teacher in creating a unique interaction between the teacher and the students, which can only take place when the teacher’s personalities, professionalism, educational environment, context, because each time they are unique experiences, » says L. Kaminskienė.