PAST
Hradec Town Hall has decided to introduce scholarships for university students in teaching fields. Thus it prepares for the possible shortage of teachers after their retirement. For the commitment to work for four years in any elementary school built in the city, the town hall will pay the student a one-time payment of 48,000 kroner. The city council approved the first scholarships for four teaching students on Tuesday. Mayor Pavlína Springerová (HDK) told reporters.
“We must prepare for a generational change. A large part of the members of the teaching staff are now retirement or pre-retirement age,” said the mayor. Scholarships also help attract students with approvals to schools, which schools are often in short supply of. For example, they are teachers of mathematics, information technology, chemistry, physics or English. However, the scholarship allocation is not limited to specific approvals.
Master’s degree students in an accredited study program focused on the preparation of elementary school teachers can apply for the program until the end of September. Four female students with allocated scholarships must enter some of the 17 elementary schools in Hradec Králové within six months of completing their studies.
The city wants to continue the scholarship program for future teachers, which apparently has higher subsidy support. The town hall did not rule out adjusting and simplifying the program after discussion with the school management. “For example, we plan to reduce the obligation to work from four to three years. We also want to greatly increase the funds that will be given in the future,” said the mayor.
The city will announce the dates for submitting applications for the next year of the program at the start of next year.
Since 2016, the Hradec Králové Region has a similar scholarship program to attract future doctors. Medical students who will work in the region for at least three years will receive a scholarship of up to 300,000 kroner from the region. Currently, the region has received almost 200 doctors for hospitals and medical facilities in the region through the scholarship program.
(chtk, ts, culture)
tomas.kulhanek@salonkyhk.cz