In December 2015, the President of the Russian Federation ordered the formation of a national system of teacher growth (NSTS), the task of which is to establish the level of professionalism of teachers through certification results. How to improve the quality of knowledge among schoolchildren?

Certification of teaching staff in 2018: general provisions

In the certification of teachers for the establishment of qualification categories, the latest changes in the 2017-2018 academic year are associated with the introduction of uniform objective requirements throughout the Russian Federation, which were absent until now.

The reason for this change is the question of a young teacher asked during a direct line with the president about the significant difference in the salaries of beginning teachers and experienced teachers.

But teaching staff began en masse to apply for early certification in order to pass it before the introduction of changes in 2018.

Disadvantages of the current certification system

Currently, there are 2 types of certification of teaching staff: for compliance with the position held and for assignment of a qualification category.

The disadvantages of the current certification system are that it is “not always transparent” - there are different approaches in the regions of the Russian Federation. Only the procedure itself is mandatory, and the certification procedure is chosen by each region independently, because There are no uniform (federal) requirements for certification established for the Russian Federation.

Certification of suitability for the position of teaching staff

Particular attention should be paid to the fact that the new model for certification of teaching staff does not change the procedure for certification for suitability for the position. It is still necessary to be guided by the current regulatory document regulating the certification procedure - the Procedure for certification of teaching staff of organizations engaged in educational activities, approved. by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated 04/07/2014 No. 276 (hereinafter referred to as the Certification Procedure).

Download the checklist “How to prepare teachers for certification and summarize
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The Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 27, 2016 No. 584 on the specifics of the application of professional standards establishes a transition period until January 1, 2020.

Currently, the issue of excluding from professional standards the provision that they are used during certification is being considered.

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This table will help determine whether an employee’s education meets the requirements for teaching positions.

Changes in 2018 in the certification of teaching staff for assignment of a qualification category

In the 2017-2018 academic year, the latest changes relate to the certification of teachers to establish (confirm) a qualification category or fill a new position in the order of job growth in accordance with qualifications.

Thanks to changes in the certification of teaching staff in 2018, the distance associated with experience between a novice teacher and a more experienced teacher will be reduced. At the same time, no one belittles the merits of older generation teachers. Young teachers will be able to get certified earlier if the teacher sees himself as a professional of a new quality.

Significant changes in the certification of teaching staff in 2018 relate to the content of the test. Control measuring materials will contain three blocks:

Teacher professional assessment will gradually be expanded in these three areas.

It is important to remember that an objective assessment of a student’s achievements can only be given in dynamics, in comparison - “today” should be compared with what he could “yesterday”, and not take the peak results of students.

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To assess the work experience of a teacher who is being certified for a qualification category, it is proposed to take the evaluation criteria for the competitive test “Methodological Seminar” of the All-Russian competition “Teacher of the Year in Russia”. The teacher sets out conceptual methodological approaches based on work experience, talks about technologies that help implement the Federal State Educational Standard of General Education and the Professional Standards of a Teacher.

Risks of the new model of certification of teaching staff

Many teachers consider this type of verification incorrect, because their qualifications are confirmed by an education diploma.

Surely these issues will be addressed in the new model of certification of teaching staff.

Prospects for professional growth of teaching staff in the new certification model

Currently, increasing the level of education of a teacher and increasing the level of proficiency in professional competencies do not affect the professional (including job) growth of a teacher.

The introduction of a new model for certification of teaching staff will allow young teachers to build their careers in different directions and improve their teaching skills (the path of horizontal growth).

The NSDS involves the introduction of three job gradations:

The senior lecturer will provide mentoring while carrying a light workload. Each gradation can have three more divisions.

In the new certification model, previous preferences for teaching staff will not be cancelled: all previous titles, qualifications, categories, and the right to a long-service pension will be retained.

How teacher certification will take place in 2018: implementation timeframe

In the 2017-2018 academic year, certification of teachers will take place according to the procedure regulated by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated April 7, 2014 No. 276.

Since September 2017, in 13 regions of the Russian Federation, a model for level assessment of the competencies of Russian language and mathematics teachers who have expressed their willingness to participate in its implementation has been tested.

The development of a new certification system will continue until 2020. Comprehensive testing of the new certification system, based on the use of a federal bank of tasks of a standardized form when establishing qualification categories, will take place in pilot regions of the Russian Federation and at the choice of teachers.

Download the document Stages of developing a new model for certification of teaching staff
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*Employee qualifications – level of knowledge, skills, professional skills and work experience of the employee (Article 195.1 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation)

After amendments were adopted to the Education Law in the Russian Federation, industry experts drew attention to some transformations in the certification procedure for the category of Russian teachers. Increasing the standards of teaching qualifications and thoroughly checking the level of staff training - such trends may become real objective requirements for teachers in the near future. Let's take a closer look at what will change in passing the certification of teachers? Who can go for retraining? Mandatory and voluntary certification: features of the procedure.

What changes have been made to the teacher certification procedure?

According to amendments to the Law on Education (Federal Law No. 273-FZ of December 29, 2012), a new model for certification of teaching staff was introduced in 2018. According to the authors and developers of the concept, it is designed to improve the entire teaching staff, leaving only qualified and experienced personnel after certification.

Starting from 2018, teachers will undergo certification sequentially, in two stages:

Stage 1. Confirmation of professional teaching skills and compliance with their position in the school.

Stage 2. Protection of teaching qualifications: a special commission will analyze whether the teacher’s qualification level was correctly assigned. If the category is confirmed, the teacher will receive advanced training.

It must be said that when passing the certification, a specially created commission will focus on the quality of the candidate’s preparation in the following blocks:

knowledge of the discipline;

teaching skills;

communication and interaction with students;

checking psychological preparation: analysis of the teacher’s reactions to various situations, including stressful moments.

Who will be affected by the teacher knowledge test in 2019?

According to the provisions on conducting routine certification of teachers, it is carried out once every 5 years. Accordingly, in 2019, testing of knowledge, skills and psychological preparation will be mandatory for all those teachers who passed it back in 2013.

First of all, these are teachers who will soon go on maternity leave (their certification will be scheduled after leaving);

secondly, these are teachers who already have existing qualifications;

thirdly, new teachers whose work experience at school does not exceed two years are exempt from certification;

Teachers who have been on long-term vacation (4 months or longer) may not be certified. The law requires them to undergo routine training 12 months after full return to the state.

Read also: Will there be a salary increase for Russian teachers in 2019?

Voluntary certification for advanced training of education workers

In 2019, all educational workers have the opportunity to voluntarily improve their qualifications unscheduled. At the same time, it is important to say that not only uncategorized specialists, but also those personnel who have been assigned the appropriate qualifications can undergo certification on a voluntary basis. In order to qualify for unscheduled recertification, a teacher must already have had the category for 24 months, that is, 2 years must have passed since passing the commission the previous time.

In order to apply for voluntary recertification, a teacher must first contact the school management. Next, a corresponding application is submitted to the department of education at the location of the school. If a candidate meets the basic requirements for unscheduled recertification, he or she may not be denied testing.

In conclusion, we would like to add an important note: those teachers who for some reason do not pass certification (mandatory or voluntary) will be sent for additional training. The Ministry of Education emphasizes that this is not about removal from teaching, but about comprehensive and high-quality retraining of specialists.

To improve the quality of teachers' work, various adjustments are made annually to the process of their mandatory certification. The process of checking the professionalism of teachers is carried out in the form of KIMs, using as a basis an objective assessment at the federal level.

Basic information

Several years ago, the President of Russia approved the formation of a special teacher growth system, the main task of which is to assess the level of professionalism of the designated employees using special developments of the Ministry of Education. To find out on what principle the certification of teaching staff is planned for 2018-2019, you should initially condemn the main provisions of this process.

1. Content – ​​the effectiveness of a teacher’s work is assessed on the basis of specially prepared material presented in the form of a KIM. In this form, not only knowledge of the subject is assessed, but also the psychological and pedagogical methodology of presenting it to students.
2. The new testing model provides incentives for teachers to improve the quality of their own work and its effectiveness.
3. Changes provide an opportunity for an ordinary teacher who has just graduated from a pedagogical university to acquire the highest category. To do this, it is enough to demonstrate your own professional skills and the result of mastery before the commission. The teacher’s salary directly depends on the assigned category.

The reason for the above modernization is the solution to the issue of young teachers. Their salaries are already not very remarkable, and while their colleagues can count on more substantial payment for their own labor, those who really want and can work well are forced to settle for a meager salary. Therefore, all young teachers are already applying en masse for early certification.

Existing shortcomings of the certification system

At the moment in Russia there are two types of certification of representatives of the pedagogical sphere.

1. For assignment of a qualification category.
2. Compliance with the position held.

The main disadvantage of such certification is its “opacity”. It turns out that regions of the country approach the issue of advanced training in their own way. The procedure itself is considered mandatory, not its content. The problem lies in the fact that there are no uniform requirements for certification.

1. The assignment of a qualification category is carried out through an assessment of the teacher’s work - his “portfolio” is studied. But there are simply no exact EFOM and qualification criteria.
2. The current rules of the Ministry of Education do not allow a young teacher who has just received a diploma to expect to receive the highest qualification category. According to the rules, you will initially have to earn the first category, after which you can apply for the highest, but not earlier than two years after the last certification.
3. Creating a “portfolio” – an attestation document – ​​takes a teacher a lot of time and effort, which he should spend on teaching schoolchildren. As a result, most of the teacher's working time is spent for other purposes.
4. If a teacher has already successfully completed the certification, he loses all desire to continue his education and acquires new professional competencies due to insufficient motivation. The problem is the lack of prospects for job growth.

Certification for suitability for the position held in 2019

Teachers should pay special attention to the new certification model, which does not change the very procedure for obtaining a “credit” for compliance with the position held. As before, this process will be guided by existing standards and regulations. The transition period of the legislation of the Russian Federation to the new certification rules is set until January 1, 2020.

At the moment, politicians are considering the possible exclusion of some items previously used in the procedure from teacher evaluation standards.

The announced type of certification is carried out on the basis of an assessment of pedagogical qualities, skills and results of the duties performed, specified in the employment contract. The part regarding the job responsibilities of the teacher is guided by the relevant EKS.

Thanks to the modernization of the teacher certification process, it will be possible to reduce the distance between those who have sufficient experience and aspiring professionals. This does not mean at all that someone is trying to belittle the merits of the older generation teachers. It’s simple why can’t young personnel earn more if their professional qualities allow it.

In the new certification model, confirmation of a teacher’s qualifications should be carried out on the basis of an objective, independent assessment, using the EFOM certification form.

The content of the test itself will also change. Control materials should be divided into 3 main blocks:

• pedagogical subject;
• the level of knowledge of the science being taught;
• communication skills.

In the above areas, the professional assessment of representatives of the general education sector will be expanded in the future.

It is very important to remember that the assessment of the knowledge of students studying according to the methodology of the teacher being tested should not be carried out based on peak results, but in the dynamics of “what I knew and what I learned.”

Risks of the new model

It turns out that not everything new is good. Is it worth using this statement on the current topic? Let's figure it out.

1. It is not yet clear who exactly and by what criteria should check a teacher’s essay to assess his horizons. Perhaps in the future it will be replaced with CMMs.
2. Analysis of a teacher’s lesson to determine its psychological characteristics:

• additional financial costs are required;
• It is not possible to obtain permission to photograph students from all parents.

1. A teacher's professional suitability can be challenged in court.

According to the majority of current teachers, this type

testing their knowledge is considered not entirely appropriate, because first of all, their qualifications are confirmed by a diploma.

What to do if the teacher was unable to pass the certification? No one is going to fire anyone, since this is not the main goal. True, you will have to come to terms with further retraining: training, advanced training courses.

Growth prospects

To date, existing certification models do not in any way affect the professional growth of teachers. Thanks to the new model, you can count on building a teaching career in different directions.

NSSD proposes that the government use 3 job classifications for such purposes.

1. Teacher. Completed training, has knowledge of the subject and can freely plan and teach lessons.
2. Senior teacher. A teacher with the first category, who has mastered innovative technologies, works with students with disabilities and is able to independently develop a curriculum.
3. Lead teacher. A teacher with the highest category, possessing all the competencies of the previous level and acting as an integrator.

The senior teacher can do some mentoring without taking up too much of his time. By the way, each of the presented gradations has its own branch.

In conclusion, we can only add that the development of a new certification system for Russian teachers will continue until 2020. Testing of innovations should take place in several regions of the country. Points and all other, more detailed information on the noted topic will be found out shortly before the official entry into force of the modernizations.

They were implemented last year and continue to operate this year. Changes in the certification of teaching staff in 2017 will affect many teachers of preschool, secondary education and higher education organizations.

Latest changes in teacher certification in 2017

A new approach to assessing the knowledge of teaching staff in 2017 will affect all representatives of this field. Innovations in RF Law 273 allow for a completely different approach to certification, which will now be carried out in two stages:

• certification of the appropriateness of the position(the quality of competencies must be sufficient for effective work, the ability to interact with children is tested, and the existing level of the category is determined);
• advanced training(teachers receive this opportunity after passing the first stage of testing with a positive result).

Now in Russia, teachers are assigned the first and highest categories. Applicants for the first may be certified for the first time or have completed the term of the same category.

New regulations and rules

Now in the Russian Federation there is mandatory And voluntary types of assessment activities. The first type is carried out state entities in order to determine the degree of viability of the teacher, his suitability for the position held, and the second - on a non-coercive basis at the request of the employee.

Teachers who were certified 5 years ago are subject to mandatory competency assessment. Those who already have a category or are in a position are removed from it.

List of official papers

The procedure and place for submitting documents for inspection have been changed. Previously, teachers whose goal was to improve the degree of teaching excellence or assign a category made an application in their district. Nowadays, higher educational institutions at the state level are responsible for carrying out the “inspection” of knowledge.

Below is a list of documentation that must be provided to those who are going to undergo the verification procedure:

• application signed in person;
• a copy of the previous certification sheet (if passed);
• copy of diploma;
• a copy of the sheet on the acquisition of the qualification category;
• professional portfolio illustrating achievements in work;
• a copy of additional documents necessary to confirm the truth and consistency of the data (for example, when changing your last name);
• It is advisable (but not necessary) to attach a reference from the workplace or a cover letter describing the qualities of the teacher in the context of his work.

Within a month, the person submitting the request will receive a notification at the specified address. It will indicate the date and time for which the certification event is scheduled.

Who may be interested in voluntary certification?

The voluntary form should attract the attention of those educators who consciously strive to improve their level for the purpose of self-improvement, self-realization and professional advancement. The new inspection procedure in 2017 has similar features to what existed before.

A representative of the educational sphere of functioning, who has revealed his readiness to subject his teaching art to an optional form of testing, should first contact his boss on this issue in order to write the necessary petition. It must indicate the intended purpose of passing the test (establishing a new category, confirming an existing one).

This form may be of interest to both teachers without a category and those with one, but who have not yet exhausted the possibilities for career growth. To receive the highest rank, you need to have the first category, and also be well prepared in terms of skill.

How is certification carried out?

The completion of mandatory certification in 2017 is controlled by a special committee consisting of authorized members of the educational organization. Who is included in it is decided by the leading person who confirmed the order on its formation and composition. The manager must submit a list of employees subject to control.

If a desire to undergo an optional assessment procedure is identified, the application is written by the employee himself. He should indicate the position held and the presence (absence) of a category. Within a month, the application will be verified, after which the date for testing the teacher’s experience will be determined. The duration of the procedure itself (taking into account the moment the decision is made) is up to 60 days.

There are times when an employee does not agree with the announced outcome. He has a chance to challenge it within 90 days in one of two ways:

• go to court;
• form a special council to resolve labor disputes.

Having received a satisfactory final answer, the teacher, having begun his duties, has the legal right to demand an increase in his salary.

Preparation for certification for professional suitability

Previously, it was enough to prepare children for an open lesson, find a “common language” with representatives of the certification committee, etc. Now the process has become more complicated, the set of requirements for those being tested has increased, who must prove to the inspection group that they have the right to carry out their teaching service, and the degree their awareness corresponds to it completely.

Certification for suitability for a position is an important event in the professional life of every teacher. Therefore, you should prepare for it with great responsibility in order to be able to fully reveal your potential and show off your awareness in your field. It is these criteria that the commission uses to assess the level of professional suitability.

During the inter-certification period, an education worker is obliged to take care of improving his own level of competence in all available ways (take additional courses, conduct lectures, seminars, participate in various competitions, olympiads, etc.). The fruits of professional activity should be recorded in your teaching portfolio of achievements.

No less stimulating for successfully passing the test, and, consequently, for carrying out the necessary, high-quality training, is the fact of a salary increase if the test is passed successfully.

Completion of certification for compliance with the position held

In 2017, every employee in the educational sector is subject to verification of suitability for the workplace. It will not affect those who fall under the following statements:

• “newly hired” who have worked in their place for no more than 2 years;
• those on maternity leave (after leaving which you must work for at least 2 years in order to be able to undergo certification steps);
• who have not worked at their place for more than 4 months (they are allowed to “revise” their knowledge only after a year of returning to the workplace);
• pregnant women.

If necessary, the above-mentioned subjects have the right to write an application to undergo an optional one, if this coincides with their career interests and benefits.

The updated rules of verification actions are aimed at assessing the suitability of a particular specialist for the work position held. If competence is not confirmed, he is replaced by a suitable candidate.

Certification actions can be carried out without its participant. In order to be present when the results are announced, you must submit a request for this along with the main documentation.

Regardless of the presence of the subject when issuing the conclusion, the commission forms a protocol. The assessment results, personal data of the person being checked and other necessary information are recorded in it. The result of the verification event is entered into the certification sheet. If the decision is positive, the teacher’s competence is confirmed for the position he or she occupies.

The new procedure for certification of teaching staff implies more time and effort resources for training. Perhaps not everyone will like it, which will force some, especially the “old-timers,” to prematurely quit teaching.

It is possible that such a check may frighten young candidates who are unsure of their performance. In order not to worry in vain, it is necessary to focus on early preparation. You can agree or disagree with the innovations, but if you are determined to develop and grow in your field of activity, it is important to simply accept them and begin the required preparatory measures.

The new certification of teaching staff in 2018, tested in the fall in a number of regions of Russia, was developed last spring and is designed to fill teachers’ gaps in specialized subjects. About 30% of teachers are not able to solve problems on their own or write a dictation accurately. What kind of qualitative leap in education can we talk about if the basic training of teachers is lame? Certification, which teachers will now undergo every 4 years, is aimed at eliminating gaps in specific disciplines and increasing the level of general knowledge, including psychology. This, according to the developers, will serve to bring students closer to each other and increase the prestige of the profession. Is the new form of teacher certification really capable of doing this?

At the desk with the students

The assessment block is shaped like an exam paper, so primary and secondary school staff will have to sit at a desk with the students. However, in essence the new model is noticeably different. Mentors will be asked to tick the boxes that they think are correct and to be creative by writing an essay or essay suggesting their own approach to teaching.

The intentions designed to raise the general level of professional competence of teachers are clear, but not fully developed. Most experts are inclined to believe that the new form of teacher certification in 2018 should include 3 main sections.

1. A block of knowledge of the subject in which the teacher specializes. The teacher is obliged to answer questions, show imagination, and solve independent work.
2. A block on psychology, which is designed to evaluate the communication abilities of a mentor. The results of the section show how successful the teacher is in finding a common language with the students.
3. A block that evaluates a teacher’s pedagogical training. Its results will become a criterion for the ability to get out of difficult situations and smooth out conflicts.

What angers teachers

Representatives of the Ministry of Education assure that the new rules for teacher certification in 2018 are not a punitive measure aimed at reducing the number of teachers, who are already in short supply. Mentors who fail the exam will be sent to advanced training courses, where they can not only prepare for a repeat exam, but also increase their rank, which will have a positive impact on income. However, good intentions sound great on paper, but it is unclear how this will be organized in practice, which causes justifiable indignation among teachers. The weakest points of the new certification rules, according to school employees, are the following factors.

1. The mechanism for checking creative works has not been defined. It is not entirely clear who and by what criteria will check the essays written during the certification process.
2. The level of psychological abilities of the teacher is supposed to be assessed on the basis of a video recording of the lesson. However, this requires equipment and parental consent.
3. Teachers can challenge their professional competence in court on the basis of their existing diplomas. It is difficult to establish professional suitability or unsuitability.

Should I be afraid of the upcoming certification?

Despite the obvious shortcomings, a program to improve the level of training of specialists has been launched. It should hardly be regarded as a panacea capable of dramatically and quickly transforming the existing concept of education. However, even if ten, twenty, hundred cases of teacher unsuitability are established, this is not bad, since it will rid the school of people who are not doing their job. At the same time, we are not talking about immediate dismissal: if desired, each mentor will have the opportunity to raise the level of knowledge in relevant courses and think about future prospects in the chosen field.

Do not forget that a significant part of teachers were exempt from the new teacher certification in 2018. Among them are pregnant women, workers with a qualification category, and employees returning from illness or maternity leave.

There is no need to be afraid of certification - when it comes to increasing the level of education of the younger generation, any means are good. The technique has not yet been worked out, but life itself will offer optimal certification options. We can only hope that positive innovations will have a real impact on the professional growth of teachers, and will not become a formal dummy and fertile ground for scandals.