Currently, students in Belarus have to work for a minimum of 2 years (or 5 in some cases) at a place assigned to them by the university if their studies were subsidized from the state budget. Yesterday, Lukashenka suggested extending this practice to other students as well, even if they have paid tuition fees.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, commented on this proposal:
“Yesterday, the Lukashenka regime proposed to increase mandatory work after government-subsidized studies to 7 years and introduce such obligations for fee-paying students. This idea shows the regime's desire to limit the freedom of choice and mobility of young people. Increasing the requirement of mandatory work to five or even seven years binds young people to the regime for a longer term. This is an attempt to keep young professionals within the country, ignoring their own desires and ambitions.
Instead of blaming young people for not paying enough for their education, the government should strive to improve its quality and provide opportunities for young people to fully develop”.
