Minsk Oblast Education: A Blueprint for the Future
On March 18th, the 28th session of the Minsk Oblast Council of Deputies focused on a regional action plan to implement the state program “Intellectual Belarus” for 2026-2030. The plan, presented by Nikolai Bashko, head of the main education department of the regional executive committee, outlines a comprehensive strategy for transforming the region’s education system.
Investing in Early Childhood and Schooling
The first subprogram, “Kindergarten and School. Territory of Success,” prioritizes access to high-quality education from the earliest stages. The goal is to increase preschool enrollment for children aged 1-6 from 86.1% to 90%. This reflects a growing understanding of the critical importance of early childhood development in shaping future success.
The plan similarly aims to increase the percentage of graduates continuing to vocational and secondary specialized education from 51.5% to 54% by 2030. This shift acknowledges the increasing demand for skilled trades and technical professionals.
Nurturing Talent and Expanding Opportunities
The second subprogram, “Children and Youth. The Future of Belarus,” focuses on extracurricular activities, fostering talent, and providing social support. A key objective is to increase the proportion of children aged 6-18 engaged in technical programs from 13% to 25% by 2030. Nikolai Bashko emphasized the importance of encouraging boys to pursue technical fields.
“The implementation of these indicators will be challenging, but we will make every effort to ensure that, first of all, boys identify a technical focus within additional education during this five-year period.”
Nikolai Bashko
The plan also calls for increasing the number of children attending year-round health camps in four regions of the Oblast and increasing the number of orphans placed in family care from 85.7% to 90%.
Preparing a Skilled Workforce
The final subprogram, “Professional Personnel,” centers on preparing qualified specialists for immediate entry into the workforce. This involves improving the quality of vocational and secondary specialized education, strengthening practical training, and creating a modern adult learning system. The plan aims to update the content of 35% of vocational and secondary specialized education programs – a 3.5-fold increase from the current 10%.
A significant change will be the ratio of theory to practice: the share of practical training in all specialties is planned to increase from 30% to 50%.
To support this shift, the plan includes substantial investment in modernizing equipment, with the goal of equipping 80% of secondary specialized education institutions with state-of-the-art learning tools. Funding will approach from the national budget. The program also aims to increase the percentage of workers participating in adult education programs from 10.5% to 15%.
The plan also includes the construction of 10 new preschool and general education institutions in the Oblast over the next five years.
FAQ
Q: What is the main goal of the “Intellectual Belarus” program in the Minsk Oblast?
A: To improve the quality and competitiveness of education in the region, ensuring graduates meet the demands of the modern economy.
Q: What percentage of children are expected to be enrolled in preschool education by 2030?
A: 90%.
Q: How will practical training be increased in vocational schools?
A: The share of practical training will increase from 30% to 50% of all specialties.
