Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan harmonizing education systems

MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan are following the way of harmonizing their education systems. The opinion was voiced by Vladimir Zdanovich, Chairman of the Education, Culture, Science and Technological Advance Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, a member of the Social Policy, Science, Culture, and Humanitarian Affairs Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State, at a video briefing hosted by the Union State website www.soyus.by on 9 February. The parliamentarian believes the creation of the Single Economic Space that provides for free flow of capital, workforce, and commodities cannot but affect the operation of the education systems of the three countries. “It is more profitable for Belarus to keep in mind the East than the West,” believes Vladimir Zdanovich. The foundation for integration is laid down at the legislative level. Due to objective reasons the Union State has advanced further in this area. The Education Code that came into force in Belarus in September 2011 gives citizens of Belarus and Russia equal rights to student accommodation, medical services and so on. The document is designed to allow everyone feel welcome in Belarus, said the MP. He added the Code has improved academic mobility of students and teachers, allowing them to switch universities. Besides, the document allows foreign citizens to set up education institutions in Belarus ranging from children’s daycare centers and universities. Asked about differences in university admittance tests in Belarus and Russia, Vladimir Zdanovich said that both the systems are meant to allow the worthy ones to enter a university. Some differences like timelines may be corrected. The thing is that Russian school graduates do not have time to enter Belarusian universities. While they are still in school, the university admittance campaign in Belarus is in full swing. Therefore, there are about 2,000 Russian students in Belarus and about 20,000 students in Russia. Time corrections will allow fixing the disparity and increasing competition between young people going for quality education. The parliamentarian believes that in the future Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan may work out a common mechanism for university admittance testing. “I think we will do it with the development of the Single Economic Space,” he said.

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