MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – The state will continue investing money in the education system. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement during the Nationwide Conference on Teaching on 27 August, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “The education system is a state-forming branch of the economy. Yes, it requires serious investments. And we invest and will continue investing in it. If there are no educated and well-mannered young people in a country today, then the country will not exist tomorrow.”
In his words, nearly Br30 billion was spent on developing the education system in the last three years. As many as 73 educational institutions have been built and undergone major repairs. Another nine will be built by the end of the year.
“According to the reports I get, the preschool education coverage is practically 100%. The transportation of children has been organized in places without a school or a kindergarten. The vehicle fleet has been substantially renewed with this in mind. About 700 buses have been shipped to schools since 2022 alone. Parents complain about some of them. This is why I instruct municipal government agencies together with the Education Ministry to once again revisit the matter of transportation of kids,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Sort it out after all lest I have to sort it out.”
The president also drew attention to the fact that a lot had been done to enhance the physical infrastructure of education institutions. “Even despite sanctions. Today literally all schools in the country have the technical capability for access to any informational and educational resources. Let alone higher education institutions and colleges. The practice of remote education will be expanded as much as it is necessary and under the oversight of the state. Mine and yours,” he noted.
Another indicator of the high quality of Belarusian education is the results school students demonstrate during international academic excellence competitions. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that they won over 200 medals in the last three years alone. “Victories in exact sciences, which act as basic ones for training personnel for science-intensive and high-tech branches of the economy, give me particular joy,” the head of state said.
The prestige of Belarusian higher education institutions is confirmed by the annual increase in the number of foreign students. At present over 30,000 people from over 100 countries go to Belarusian universities. And the demand of foreigners for getting an education in Belarus constantly rises, the president stated.
“The sanctions-fueled policy was a factor that forced us to adjust the education system’s development plans. But we found our bearings fast. We preserved positive dynamics and found new growth points. We now more actively work with Russia, China, and countries of the Global South,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.