Mintimer Shaimiev: “To be always ahead”

Mintimer Sharipovich, Tatarstan today is one of the leaders in school computerization in Russia. When did the process start in Tatarstan republic and what results did you achieve?

In Tatarstan we started to be concerned with a matter of computerization of schools seriously in 2001 when federal target programs "Children of Russia" and "Development of the common educational information environment for 2001-2005" were accepted. In our republic we have also developed our own project " Equipment of schools with computer technics and their connection to the Internet ". In 2001 alone according to these programs schools were supplied with 9 thousand computers. More than half a billion roubles were spent on these purposes, 80% were funds from the republican budget.

Imagine, in 2000 for 210 pupils there was one computer in schools of the republic, now even at rural schools there is a computer class, for 23 pupils there is one computer. It is a very high index, considering, that on average across Russia there are more than 110 schoolchildren for one computer.

Next step became connection of schools to the Internet. The largest Tatarstan operator of communication JSC “Tattelecom” won the open tender. Today more than 1800 educational establishments of republic can enter the worldnet, and it is more than 90 percent. 48,3 million roubles were allocated for connection, more than 60 percent of this sum was transfered from the republican budget. In addition, about 11 million rbl. from the budget of republic were aimed at payment of services on unlimited access to the Network in 2005.

Realization of such projects could not be possible without an appropriate base…

In Tatarstan favorable conditions for advancement of new programs and technologies are created. The fact is that necessary information infrastructure is created in the republic at advancing rates. In 2001-2005 we realized the republican program "Development of communication infrastructure in rural areas ". It allowed to make a qualitative spurt in the field of high technologies. Due to the fiber-optical networks, which entangled the republic, the quality Internet is available in Tatarstan even in the most remote corners.

By the results of the research lead by the company "Cominfo consulting", Tatarstan market of computer technologies and the software grows by 20 percent a year The fact that Tatarstan company " ICL - КПО ВС " producing computer equipment and software is very seriously presented on this market contributes to the realization of major projects in many respects. The company was established in 1991 by Kazan production association of computing systems (КПО ВС ) and by the British company " International Computers Limited "/ICL/. The shareholder is one of the largest world manufacturers of computers - Japanese company "Fujitsu". During the last 6 years, since 2000, "ICL КПО ВС " has shown growth of services realization volumes by 500 percent. Today its share in the market of Tatarstan makes 21 percent.

How do you see further strategy of IT development in educational sphere?

Today the worthy base is created, the next step is equipment of schools with the software and professional training. It is no secret that present-day young generation proves to be more advanced concerning information technologies, than their teachers and parents. We have set the task to liquidate information gap between generations. In order to train children, teachers should, first of all, manage information-communication technologies, be able to compile programs for subjects. The republic center of information-methodological guarantee and control with branches in the cities and the regions is created for the systematic support of technologies in education. Introduction of new programs, training takes place within the framework of the federal project "Informatization of education system" and the partner program of "Intel" "Training for the future". Furthermore, last year we one of the first in Russia signed the agreement and started to train teachers according to the program of "Microsoft Rus" ltd. More than 5 thousand people passed the teaching already, but another 40 percent of teachers should receive necessary training.

It is impossible to stop in development of technologies. You know, how swiftly computer technics and the software develop. If four years ago computers, the equipment, installed at schools, were up-to-date, today these machines are considered obsolete. Therefore, the problem of updating computer equipment will always exist. This year we plan to continue this work within the framework of national project "Education".

Mintimer Sharipovich, how much are educational resources in Tatar language in demand with Internet users, from your point of view?

Together with "Microsoft" we now work on very serious project - the version of "Windows" in Tatar language. Indeed, there are certain difficulties of technical character in the process of the creation of Tatar or any other national segment in the world network. The strategic agreement, which we signed with Microsoft Company, offers fundamentally new possibilities of development of the info-communication media. Before that, in September of the last year we presented the operating system "Linux", localized on the Tatar language i.e., we create a good set of instruments, it is in demand, and now the main thing is to use it competently.

Furthermore, to expand the Tatar segment in the world network we create Information- educational system - IES RT on the base of Tatar State Humanitarian-pedagogical University. Means of technical support of Tatar language in the Internet, Tatar-language sites, interactive technologies of teaching will be developed on the basis of this system. If we manage it, this will be colossal support of the educational needs of Tatars, who live beyond the borders of republic as well.

Mintimer Sharipovich, many people are frightened by the negative influence Internet exerts on a vulnerable mind of a child. Opening the door to the information world, weren’t you afraid of unpredictable consequences?

It is amazing, but small children master computer with such ease, that adult can only envy them! To forbid them to use the Internet in modern conditions is simply impossible, and it is even unnecessary. At the same time, opening to child the access into the World Wide Web, as it seems to me, we seriously approached this matter. All schools are incorporated into the united educational network. It includes resource center on the base of Kazan State University, where the necessary protection systems and a special educational portal are developed. The original school Intranet of republican scale appeared.

Does the speed of data transfer correspond to the existing needs? Is usage of alternative connection technologies possible in the future?

The need of increasing the "productivity" of educational network exists. It is connected with the insufficient speed of data transmission on the existing Dial-Up technology, and practically all rural establishments of education are connected using this scheme. However, technology doesn’t stay the same. Last year we opened the first mobile Internet-class according to the program of "Vympelcom" company. It is interesting that it appeared in the orphanage of the well-known Raif monastery. As a result, its pupils obtained the possibility to enter the Internet, using wireless access GPRS/EDGE of "Beeline" network.

Mintimer Sharipovich, high-tech is always connected with large expenses. What effect do you expect after realization of information-communicational projects in education?

The main thing is, that today we managed to solve a serious problem - to liquidate a gap in a level of development of technologies between large cities and village. Today in rural areas of republic, the level of digital technologies is higher, than in some cities. I presume that in conditions when the world is open, one cannot bring up the whole generation in alienation from this world. Children, who study at rural schools, should not live in information isolation; it is necessary to strive to give them equal starting opportunities with their contemporaries. Otherwise, we will not be able to grow up a competitive personality. At the end, in few years it will affect development of the entire economy. I am absolutely sure, that further development of informatization system predetermines our future. Therefore, the information inequality is a social problem without a solution to which, it is impossible to speak about the further growth or technical progress. The price of a matter here is very high, as a matter of fact, it is our competitiveness in the future.

Do you use a mobile phone, Mintimer Sharipovich?

Yes, and I started to use much earlier, than it was spread in the country. I consider, that in science and technology, especially on communication and information it is necessary to be always ahead. I think, that our services which are responsible for their development in republic, work, looking into the future. In general, we should know and introduce the latest achievements of world science in any branch of economy. Otherwise, we will lag behind and we shall drop out of history. If we try to reflect deeply, the generation with other information culture for which the Internet, mobile communication is as natural as the TV or radio already grows up. Moreover, I still remember those times when there wasn’t even electricity in villages. I liked to read in childhood very much, we lived in a village and it was impossible to read in the evening, because it was necessary to save kerosene. Once father brought a radio receiver, which worked on a battery. I pulled it out from the receiver, adapted a bulb to it, there appeared desired light. And I could read books in the evenings. And then, when my brother inserted the battery back into the receiver, it turned out, that the radio did not work - I had spent entire charge of a battery. I remember, I caught it hot from father. Since then I had a dream: to assemble such radio receivers that would work without batteries. And I have assembled it! My schoolmate and me found long wires, and hooked them to high posts by "our" special technology. When I heard a voice from this detector receiver, I felt unprecedented pride. Then there were many victories in my life but it was the first step in the world of high, for those times, technologies.

Do you consider yourself a mobile person?

Certainly! Otherwise, it is impossible to be the head of republic where everything boils, rages, builds up and moves forward. Every year time is more and more “condensed". I am easy-going in life myself. Mobile means active. The Tatar proverb says, "In movement is well-being".