From Russia - to learn
Posted on 27 October 1999
Dr Margarita Leontieva, head of the Department of Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education, and responsible for the curriculum in all schools across the Russian Federation, will be seeing the innovative way design and technology are taught in the city. Dr Leontieva's brief covers 44 million children in more than 60,000 schools.
She makes her first ever visit to Britain next week at the invitation of James Pitt, Visiting Fellow in the University's Department of Educational Studies. Mr Pitt is the senior consultant to regional pilot projects in Russia, helping schools to develop a new approach to technology teaching which encourages children to enjoy the subject and gain confidence from it. Russia decided to take up this approach some years ago to replace the old-style 'Labour Training' method which emphasised skills. James Pitt has just received a prestigious grant from the British Council to help with this work.
He said: "There is a strong link here between education in York and Russia and it delights me that all levels are so supportive - the Education Ministry, the teachers in the schools who are so enthusiastic, and especially the British Council which has been so supportive. Dr Leontieva was instrumental in getting our project funded. In York she will have the opportunity to see how we teach technology and how technology teachers are trained, to learn about curriculum development projects, and to see the materials and equipment used."
Notes to editors:
- Photographers are welcome at Joseph Rowntree School at 2 pm on Thursday 4 November.
- Dr Leontieva will arrive in York on Wednesday 3 November for a briefing at the University of York on the English educational system.
- On Thursday 4 November, Dr Leontieva will visit Acomb Primary School (8.30 am), York College (9.30 am), Bootham School (11.30 am), Joseph Rowntree School (2 pm) and the College of Ripon and York St John (4 pm).
- Dr Leontieva will visit the Design and Technology Exhibition in Birmingham and meet with staff from the Nuffield Design and Technology Team, the Design Council and Her Majesty's Inspectorate.