The Embassy of the Russian Federation invites Russian teachers from Estonia: Move to Mordovia!

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tallinn has posted an offer on its Facebook page for Russian-speaking teachers living in Estonia: relocate to Mordovia and find new employment! The message states that a program has been adopted and is being implemented to facilitate the voluntary resettlement of compatriots living in Estonia with teaching experience to the Republic of Mordovia.

The announcement describes the Republic of Mordovia as one of the most dynamically developing regions of Russia, with a favorable climate, significant economic potential, and modern social infrastructure. “This subject of the Russian Federation benefits from an advantageous economic and geographical location, being close to major administrative centers such as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, and Samara. It also offers a unique ethno-cultural environment characterized by harmony and cooperation among different ethnic groups,” says the description of Mordovia, which has a population of around 800,000 people, of whom more than 50% are Russian and about 40% are ethnic Mordvins.

Administratively, the Republic of Mordovia is a first-level subject located in the Volga Federal District of Russia.

According to the Russian Embassy, there are currently 134 teaching vacancies in Mordovia, including four positions for teachers of Russian language and literature. For more detailed information on salaries and working conditions, the embassy recommends contacting the Department of Labor Resources and Labor Migration of the Ministry of Social Protection, Labor, and Employment of Mordovia.

The offer published on the embassy’s page differs significantly from the proposal made in June by Anna Skroznikova, a member of the State Duma’s Education Committee and the “New People” faction.

“I propose supporting Russian-speaking teachers in Estonia while simultaneously addressing the teacher shortage in our schools. Last week, I approached our government with a proposal to consider developing a long-term resettlement program for compatriot teachers,” Skroznikova stated at a press conference in June.

According to the State Duma member’s proposal, it is necessary to simplify the process of obtaining Russian citizenship for Russian-speaking teachers who become unemployed in Estonia due to their lack of proficiency in the state language. “Currently, our compatriots face bureaucratic delays when relocating. Therefore, I propose helping them find jobs in their field of expertise,” Skroznikova added.

However, Skroznikova noted that there is a shortage of teachers in regions located near Estonia—470 teachers are needed in the Leningrad region, over 200 in the Novgorod region, and there is also a shortage of teachers in the Kaliningrad and Pskov regions.

“State Duma Deputy Anna Skroznikova claims that she has been approached by residents of Estonia who are concerned about the decision of Kaja Kallas’s government to switch to Estonian-language education starting September 1, 2024,” wrote the Russian-language edition of Postimees at the time. “The parliamentarian has appealed to the authorities of the Pskov and Leningrad regions, as well as other regions bordering Estonia, asking them to prepare for the employment of those teachers who will no longer be able to continue working in the Baltic states.”

Skroznikova’s initiative has now shifted to the point where, instead of offering jobs in regions near the border, Russia is proposing that Estonian teachers work in Mordovia, whose capital, Saransk, is located 1,800 kilometers from Tallinn.

Propastop is awaiting a response from the Russian embassy regarding how many teachers living in Estonia have shown interest in this offer and are considering the possibility of relocating to Mordovia.

The principal of Narva Old Town Basic School, Alena Kordonchuk, confirmed to Propastop that during the summer holidays, she did not receive any information about any teacher from Narva who had failed the language exam and decided to move to Russia. “Even on the Narva forums where teachers communicate, there was no information about such cases,” Kordonchuk said.

In 2024, the average salary of a Russian language and literature teacher in Mordovia amounted to 29,916 rubles, according to data from the GorodRabot.ru website. When converted to euros, this is equivalent to €301.60. In comparison, the salary of a teacher in Estonia is €1,820.