Penza, 24 August 2012. PenzaNews. The number of 9 and 11 grades students increased in the Penza region in 2012, the number of first-graders remained the same as last year – 11,5 thousand children. In total, about 112 thousand children will go to schools on September 1. The Minister of Education of the Penza region Svetlana Kopeshkina reported about it at a press conference on Thursday, August 23.

“Teachers’ salaries increased significantly. If in 2010 it was just over 8 thousand rubles, and in 2011 — 13 thousand rubles, in 2012 it became more than 16 thousand rubles. Moreover, in 2011 more than 550 million rubles were invested in the modernization of education and in 2012 this amount was even bigger – 650 million rubles,” Svetlana Kopeshkina stated.

In addition, she explained that all the students of 1 and 2 grades and students of 3 and 5 grades who study in accordance with new educational standards would receive educational literature. Books for 7–11 grades will be delivered in accordance with the requests of schools.

“In some schools, especially in lyceums and gymnasiums, there is a special educational plan and textbooks for it are not mentioned in approved federal list. Such textbooks will not be bought,” the press service of the Ministry of Education in the region quoted Svetlana Kopeshkina.