Meeting to discuss amendments to Education Code

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has hosted a meeting to discuss legislative improvements to the national education system.

Back on 24 August, participants of the National Pedagogical Conference had agreed to discuss the new edition of the Education Code and new admission rules to higher learning institutions and professional training colleges at a meeting to be hosted by the head of state. The draft code passed the first reading and is prepared to be discussed in the second reading.

Upon the instruction of the President, representatives of the national education system, both theoreticians and practitioners, as well as experts, were invited to attend the meeting. “It was right to invite specialists from the regions, including from distant areas,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

It has already become a tradition to discuss important legislative initiatives at broad-participation meetings hosted by the President. “Amending the code and admission rules  is akin to the adoption of a new Constitution. We and our children will have to live, study and work by them. The most important thing here is not to make things worse,” the head of state emphasized.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, a lot has been done in the country in recent years to improve the education system: the necessary legislative foundation has been created, the system is adequately financed, students and teachers receive benefits and allowances.

“It is paying back. There are no major remarks as to education. The national education system is moving up international rankings, the number of foreign students is on the rise, our students win international competitions. Many foreign companies, including those abroad, are eager to hire Belarusian graduates,” the President said.

At the same time, the head of state deems it necessary to keep improving the access to education and quality of education services.
 
The proposed amendments had been discussed in detail at the National Pedagogical Conference. Simultaneously, public debate and dialogue platforms were held to discuss proposals put forward by the Education Ministry and to record initiatives voiced by teachers, parents, and all those interested.

“In a word, a huge chunk of work seems to have been done. I would like to know whether all the proposals were taken on board during the work on the code and admission rules. If not, why? We are fully aware that the world is changing very quickly and our education system must adapt to changes,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.