The number of private preschool institutions in the Krasnodar region has of late been stably growing: reportedly, 15 new private kindergartens opened in 2015 and 2016 in the region. According to official statistics, there are 33 such institutions in the region, with 2,400 children attending them.
However, shortage of kindergarten places in the region remains a topical issue. Our expert believes that business circles are able to contribute a lot to the solution of this social problem.
Our interviewee is Olga Shadrina, president of the regional Association of Preschool Organizations
“Currently our regional authorities are trying to expand the network of state-run kindergartens. Big money is being spent on their construction, but as a matter of fact huge budget expenditures may not be required if some state-private partnerships worked in the region.
“How can the mechanism of state-private partnerships work in the education sector?
“The government may issue a sort of ‘preschooler’s certificate’ for every child. This would let the parents take their kid to some private kindergarten at the state’s expense, or get reimbursed for part of the money they pay to the kindergarten. The cost of such certificate would have to be determined at the regional level. Consequently, the parents that decided in favour of a private kindergarten would be excluded from the waiting list.
“Look – it doesn’t cost the state a penny to organize a private nursery school. It is the entrepreneur who carries all risks regarding the organization of this business and brining it into line with law. If municipalities announced biddings for privately run nursery schools, I am confident that both parents and business circles would show interest in it. As a result, the market would expand, and the shortage of places would decrease.
За всеми важными новостями следите в MAX, Telegram, во «ВКонтакте», «Одноклассниках», YouTube и на Rutube
