Belarus needs workers, not lawyers
“There has already been a selection mechanism. After the primary school, children have to pass exams in order to be promoted to the gymnasium”, says Uladzimir Zdanovich, the chairman of the Education Committee at the House of Representatives.
Headmasters are reportedly told by the ministry to assist children get jobs after school. To clarify the situation, the European Radio for Belarus called Mikalai Hiro, the principal of the School No 3 in Vileyka. He confirmed that the education authorities had gathered the headmasters of the local secondary and apprenticeship schools before the New Year.
Mikalai Hiro: “They had a meeting with us and the headmasters of the local apprenticeship schools. The talk was about the 10th grades. We are instructed to orient them to seek employment opportunities as workers. The pupils who demonstrate poor performance will be advised to continue their education at apprenticeship schools”.
The basic education in Belarus means 10 grades at a secondary school. Children at the school No 3 in Vileyka have to choose whether they are promoted to the 11th grade or to sign up for apprenticeship training. The education minister does not rule out that the government could “take use of the administrative resources in order to limit the number of students who will continue studying in the 11th and 12th grades”.
Uladzimir Zdanovich, the head of the Education Committee at the House of Representatives, does not agree with this approach.
“I think that people should not be limited when it comes to a higher level of education. Instead, the population of Belarus should be sensitized that life is changing. Today, workers that used to perform simple functions at a primitive machine are required to have a better education”, he said.
However, Tatsiana Kavalyova, a deputy education minister, has assured in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus that her ministry did not issue formal instructions to school headmasters in this regard. She says the meeting about the administrative resource was intended “to warm up the audience” and that nobody wants to restrict pupils’ choice.
“We, education officials, have been tasked to orient the youth about the demands of the state and employers. On the other hand, we are expected to help a young person identify the level of his or her knowledge, skills and to create conditions so that those skills match their professional choices”.
Tastiana Kavalyova also told the European Radio for Belarus that there are too many humanitarians, lawyers and economists in this country. Uladzimir Zdanovich has a different perspective on this matter.
Uladzimir Zdanovich: “We have a lot of people who have a higher education diploma, but we lack professionals. The question is about the quality of education”.
Apparently, it means that if the government restricts the number of students at the senior high schools and universities, the youth is likely to seek education opportunities abroad.
Photo: olgakir.photosight.ru
