Opinions & Interviews

According to the Minister, the legal framework of the two countries in this area is almost ready. Currently the objective is to create conditions for the implementation of important documents, including the 2011-2015 Union State Social Development Concept. Another important factor is the participation of young people in political, social, economic and cultural projects of the Union State.

The existing legal framework provides equal opportunities for the peoples of the both countries to receive quality education. The Russians have got equal rights with Belarusian citizens in receiving both free and fee-paying higher and secondary education. In 2012 Russian citizens obtained the right to enter Belarusian universities not only using the results of the National Test but also using the results of the interview.

Answering a question from commentator of the special projects department of Radio of Russia Irina Myagchenkova, Sergei Maskevich said that Belarusian and Russian citizens take advantage of the opportunity to study in the educational institutions of the both countries. During the 2011/2012 academic year about 2,000 Russian citizens studied in Belarus and over 21,000 Belarusian students received education in Russia.

Sergei Maskevich underlined that the countries signed a number of documents in line with which universities can allocate quotas for the education of Russians in the Belarusian universities and vice versa. However, currently these quotas are not particularly popular as this quota-based education puts certain pressure on a student.

The press tour is underway in Belarus from 18 to 20 June. The event has been organized by the Permanent Committee of the Union State, the National Press Center of Belarus and the Belarusian Embassy in Russia. The tour is being held with the assistance from the Education Ministry of Belarus and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The journalists who represent specialized media, are visiting the institutes of the National Academy of Sciences and have already met with top officials of the Education Ministry of Belarus. They are set to visit the Minsk branch of the Russian State Social University and the Belarusian State University.