National Pedagogical Conference

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko announced the upcoming reset of the education system in Belarus as he spoke at the National Pedagogical Conference in Minsk on 24 August.

"We have learned our lessons. The events that occurred predetermined the importance of the issues that we want to discuss at the pedagogical conference. We have to reset the education system. Today it is a matter of national importance," the head of state emphasized.

The President recalled the ancient wisdom: After bread, education is the first need of the people. “The role of the family is important. But we understand well that it is the educator and teacher who stand at the origins of the formation of the people as a single nation. Science calls this the national identity. Simply out, this is patriotism," the President said.

He noted that this concept embraces many meanings: love for the Motherland, respect for the achievements of the past, adherence to traditions, reverence for older generations and pride in the successes of contemporaries, the desire to contribute to the history of the country.

“Time poses an unprecedented challenge to the education system,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state noted that four years passed since the previous forum, and the last two years were difficult both for the country and for the education system. “It is very important that the forum participants represent all parts of Belarus,” he noted.

“We have been through a lot, including the pandemic that put the education system to the test prompting it to adapt to new conditions within a shortest period of time. The challenges include political developments that affected education system employees as much as security officials and civil servants. And today I thank those who did not back down and our entire teaching community for their professionalism, dedication and civic position that played a great role,” the President emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “You have once again confirmed that education is not the sphere of services, not a business, but a mainstay of our statehood and a socially important branch of the economy.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko continued: “You did everything to let our kids study when we knew nothing about the virus and were afraid of going to work. I know what threats you faced when riots and the blitzkrieg started, particularly in Minsk. You were hounded, yet you courageously did your job, educating, nurturing, and patiently talking to aggressive parents.”

In his words, largely thanks to workers of the education system it was possible to prevent teenagers from committing criminal actions although not all of them. “You went the extra mile to stop their actions. These kids, their parents should make conclusions today and take a new look at the mission of the teacher, the teacher’s role in the fate of the nation and our country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.