Belarusian Education Minister Andrei Ivanets outlined the priorities for the new academic year at the plenary session of a seminar-meeting on preparations for the 2026/27 academic year at the Education Ministry on 14 August, BelTA has learned.
Andrei Ivanets stressed the importance of creating flexible working arrangements for kindergartens to accommodate parents raising young children. “The focus should be on establishing short-stay groups of two to four hours, 12-hour groups, and continuing to expand nursery groups for children under two. This should become a key priority in the coming school year so that every young mother can pursue her professional goals while raising her child,” he said.
The central figure in general secondary education remains the teacher. “Starting this academic year, we are launching a teacher training school at the Academy of Education for subject teachers. It will be based on a thorough analysis of admission campaign results, including centralized exams, national education quality assessments, and new approaches we will implement as part of a pilot project for eighth-graders with in-depth study of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology,” Andrei Ivanets added.
Regarding children with special needs, the minister noted that inclusive education must provide a flexible educational path for each child. Working with such children requires an individual approach. This includes not only a network of special kindergartens and schools but also the development of integrated groups and classes in pre-school and general secondary institutions. These should become more flexible and responsive to each child’s needs. “We see the need to expand the functions of correctional and developmental centers. This is a crucial element that gives parents and children access not only to education but also to socialization,” he emphasized.
