Opinions & Interviews

The head of state pointed out the importance of developing the education system in modern conditions. Besides, the President remarked that this is the first attempt to consider the most important issues which have been outlined before the presidential election and have taken shape after the election. Among other things, this pertains to education.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, the life compelled us to take a look at a number of important issues. The head of state reminded that the government has thoroughly analyzed the situation in the construction industry and prepared a number of corresponding legal acts. “It seems that we have systematized our construction industry and, to a certain extent, adjusted it to European norms,” the President noted. “In the near future, we are going to revise this issue and inspect the efficiency of builders. We step up efforts to improve the industry, work out plans of action, then we calm down, and people start to complain that in spite of our efforts the state of affairs remains the same. To avoid this, we will address the situation in the construction industry once again, see the progress in the fulfillment of the plans and instructions given at the level of the President.”

The head of state remarked that the same was done in the housing and utilities sector, with utility rates. “I want you and especially the government to understand that this is not a comprehensive look into the housing and utilities issues. Perhaps, the main issue is that we have finally made a decision on pricing and utility rates. People are concerned about these issues,” Alexander Lukashenko continued. “But the issue is more serious because the main objective is to analyze the quality of services provided to the population. Therefore, we will not only revise this issue in the future, we will continue our work; the government, and especially the Minsk City Hall which is going to present the most progressive and modern form of providing services, will test this form in Minsk and then introduce it throughout the country. This issue remains on the agenda.”

The President also spoke about agriculture. “We had a top-level meeting, made decisions, gave instructions, there was a special commission. After the spring sowing campaign we will address the agricultural topic once again,” he said.

Speaking about education which was the main topic of the today’s government session, the President said that it is one of the pending issues. The head of state reminded that he had given a concrete instruction to the new education minister to improve the system on the basis of achievements, without drastic reforms and demolition. “We have had a rather good system of education since Soviet times, we have transformed it. We have addressed this issue several times, published new schoolbooks. Nevertheless, we still have to do a lot,” the head of state is convinced.

“We have outlined a number of topical issues and given concrete instructions to solve all pending issues,” the President stressed. In his words, these issues concern everybody and have an immensely strong impact on the future.

Belarus’ Vice Premier Natalia Kochanova informed the President about the fulfillment of his instructions in the education sector. She said that various regions of Belarus hosted meetings with school and kindergarten teachers, directors of educational institutions. The vice premier inspected the operation of many kindergartens, schools, vocational colleges and universities, attended lessons. Natalia Kochanova assured that the situation in educational institutions is stable. She stressed: “We have refrained from all kinds of reforms and thoughtless experiments. We do not need drastic changes today."