Support campaign with real benefits

Belarus will hold a large-scale charity campaign to help children from low-income families and large families to get ready for school.


The corresponding instruction has been given by President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, as he heard out a report from Education Minister Mikhail Zhuravkov. Preparations for the new academic year have begun and, of course, it’s costly to buy everything a child needs: from study guides to their uniform.  Mr. Lukashenko notes that citizens are always ready to undertake charitable support of children from low-income and large families, saying, “We shouldn’t forget about it this year. Everyone, from the president to those who can provide footwear and clothes for children, needs to be engaged in this campaign. There should be no difference between children from disadvantaged and well-off families. All children are equal. Therefore, we must do our best here,” he added. Mr. Lukashenko has instructed the Education Ministry to organise  ‘engaging all society in helping children prepare for school’. Moreover, the President has remarked that special attention should be drawn to first-grade pupils. This year, the number of first-graders has increased to 106,000 (up 1,600 on last year). “This is a good trend. We’ve finally replenished the demographic gap, so the number of first-grade pupils is increasing,” said the President.

The Education Minister also informed the Head of State about the results of the enrolment campaign. All admission quotas have been filled, especially for state sponsored places and specialities, which serve to meet economic demand. Mr. Lukashenko is particularly focused on training blue-collar workers, who are needed not only in the CIS but across Eastern Europe. Belarus has preserved its system of vocational training, and the President was keen to know the current state of affairs.