Federation Council Speaker congratulates Russian State Pedagogical University students on Knowledge Day

Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Sergei Mironov congratulated freshmen of Russia's Gertsen State Pedagogical University on Knowledge Day in St.Petersburg.

At the solemn ceremony, devoted to the beginning of a new academic year, Mironov remarked that, entering the university, first-year students pursued a decent goal - to become teachers, RIA Novosti reports. After graduating from the institution, all of them would be school teachers, he assured.

"Today 40 mln Russians have sat down at their desks or come to teach children," Mironov also said.

Besides, the speaker promised that "legislators would do their best for the profession of a teacher to receive the status of an honourable one." At present they are working on a blueprint that will place all teachers on the same footing with civil servants, raising their status considerably, Mironov pointed out.

It is the first time in the country's history that education was paramount when the budget /2003/ was drafted, the Federation Council chairman added. And it is the first time that funds are allocated for equipment for schools and higher-education institutions, for repairs, Mironov underlined.

According to him, the 21st century will be under the aegis of science and education. "Only that country that will make a certain breakthrough in the sphere of scientific research, will be the most powerful one," the official stressed.