The 4th Congress of teachers and education workers of Member Nations of the CIS is held in Moscow

Moscow is hosting the 4th Congress of teachers and education workers of Member Nations of the CIS. The Chairperson of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko made a welcome speech at the 4th Congress of teachers and education workers of Member Nations of the CIS.

The Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council reminded that the current Congress is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States. At the same time the current year has been declared the Year of Education in the CIS.

According to Valentina Matvienko, during a quarter of a century the Commonwealth has done a great job in the field of education which included close and constructive specialists co-operation that was based on international treaties and intergovernmental agreements. "The process of harmonization of national legislations of the CIS countries in the field of education is constantly being improved and academic mobility of our citizens is increasing. One can say with a confidence, that the conditions for simultaneous reform of national educational systems have been created, "- said the Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council.

The Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev declared that this year a lot of educational activities are held within the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Commonwealth. He welcomed the establishment of the "Outstanding Education Worker of the CIS" award to distinguish the best workers in the sphere.

Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Lyubov Glebova told about the development of humanitarian projects in the Commonwealth.

Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Olga Vasilieva drew attention to the importance of experience exchange in the field of education within the CIS and to the need for sharing best practical examples with each other. The heads of the Ministries of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan also gave a welcome speech. The head of the Expert-Analytical Department of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Aleksandr Surygin attended the congress among the others.

During the plenary session with the participation of heads of the Ministries of Education (and Science) of the CIS Member States, a solemn speech devoted to the opening of the event and the 25th anniversary of the CIS was delivered and the "Outstanding Education Worker of the CIS" award ceremony was held.