This overview presents the key developments in education and science in April 2026, divided into two sections: developments within Belarus and those beyond its borders.
The overview was prepared by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Pavel Tereshkovich.
Developments inside Belarus
Militarization of education
In April, a new procedure was announced for military field training camps for secondary school students. The camps are mandatory for boys aged 16–17 who have completed the 10th grade. Compared to last year, the duration of the training has been extended to 10 days, and the camps will now take place “under conditions closely resembling those of a military unit, with students staying on site around the clock”.
For girls, practical medical training sessions will be held at healthcare institutions and regional branches of the Belarus Red Cross Society.
The Ministry of Education stresses that students who do not complete the training will not be admitted to the 11th grade.
The influence of “Russian World”
The Russkiy Mir Foundation continues expanding its influence in Belarus. A dedicated classroom will be established at the Faculty of Philology of the Homiel State University, according to the foundation’s chief project manager, Sergey Utilin. The Russkiy Mir Foundation is a Russian state organization that promotes the Russian language and culture abroad. In reality, there are no restrictions or problems related to the Russian language in Belarus.
Joint meeting of the education ministries of Belarus and Russia
A joint session of the boards of the Belarusian Ministry of Education and the Russian Ministry of Education was held in Smolensk on April 8, 2026, to discuss expanding the activities of the Association of Colleges of Belarus and Russia, which now includes 882 institutions, implementing a continuous patriotic upbringing program for children and youth for 2026–2028, and organizing patriotic events for students and teachers. Such joint sessions are among the mechanisms that draw Belarus further into the orbit of the “Russian World”.
850 state-funded university slots for Russian applicants in Belarus
In 2026, the Belarusian Ministry of Education offered 850 state-funded places for Russian applicants. According to the ministry, these students will receive the same social guarantees as Belarusian citizens, including mandatory two-year work placement after graduation. This initiative is part of an undeclared competition for young people and serves as a response to Russia’s offer of 1,300 scholarships for studies at Russian universities. Compared to last year, Belarus reduced its offer by 150 slots.
Abolition of paid medical education
Starting from the new academic year, paid education in medical specialties will be abolished in Belarus. This means that all future graduates will be required to work for two years in state institutions after completing their studies. Students admitted through targeted recruitment programs — accounting for 45–70% of students — will be obligated to work for five years. The measure is intended to address the severe shortage of medical personnel. As of April 6, the national vacancy database listed 2,627 vacancies for specialist doctors and 2,312 vacancies for nurses.
National education quality assessment
On April 28, 2026, Belarus conducted a National Education Quality Assessment involving 20,000 students aged 15. The study aimed to assess literacy in reading, mathematics, financial literacy, and science. Authorities stated that all tasks were developed exclusively by Belarusian experts and based on Belarusian contexts.
After 2018, Belarus withdrew from participation in the international PISA assessment. This year’s model was borrowed from Russia but is not identical to it. Such an approach makes international comparisons impossible and further reinforces the country’s international isolation. The first national assessment was conducted in 2023, but its results were never made public.
Increased control over talented youth
In April, the Ministry of Education of Belarus amended the rules governing databases of talented young people who receive privileges or Aliaksandr Lukashenka scholarships. According to the new regulations, individuals may be removed from these databases if they study abroad without state permission, possess foreign documents granting benefits or privileges linked to national identity — primarily the Karta Polaka (Pole’s Card) — or are convicted of so-called “extremist” offenses.
Public protest against abuses in the education system
A public address by Dzmitry Anoshka, a lecturer at the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, directed to Aliaksandr Lukashenka received more than 140,000 views. In his statement, the lecturer highlighted numerous systemic problems, including low salaries, violations of examination and expulsion procedures, and the catastrophic decline in the quality of student training. According to students, Dzmitry Anoshka is considered one of the university’s best lecturers. He is also reportedly fully loyal to the political regime in Belarus.
Developments abroad
European Humanities University declared an “extremist organization”
On April 14, 2026, the Supreme Court of Belarus designated the European Humanities University as an “extremist organization”. This decision constitutes a serious violation of international law and interference in Lithuania’s internal affairs, as the university is officially registered there. It places lecturers, staff members, graduates, students, and even their parents at risk of criminal prosecution. This is the most serious threat to the university’s existence since its closure in Minsk in 2004.
The European Union, Lithuania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the democratic forces of Belarus have strongly condemned the decision by the Lukashenka regime.
New volume of research on Belarusian dialects in Lithuania
In April, the second volume of Mirosław Jankowiak’s monograph “Contemporary Belarusian Dialects in Lithuania. Volume 2: Šalčininkai District” was published with the support of the Institute of the Lithuanian Language. The publication includes an overview of the sociolinguistic situation in the region and a description of local Belarusian dialects, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. The volume also contains a thematic dictionary, examples of spoken language, and photographs.
Roundtable on Belarusian researchers and Belarusian studies in the German-speaking world
On April 9, 2026, an online roundtable titled “Belarusian Researchers and Belarusian Studies in the German-Speaking World” took place. The event was co-organized by the Belarus Historical Research Forum of the German Association for East European Studies, the Astafei Valovich Belarusian Research University, and the Belarusian Association for Education and Science.
Participants noted the existence of a strong academic infrastructure and tradition of Belarusian studies in Germany, as well as the role of the Dekoder media project. At the same time, despite growing interest in Belarus, attention to the country remains significantly lower than attention to Russia and Ukraine. Researchers also observed that Eastern European studies often include Belarus but rarely approach the region from a Belarus-centered perspective. According to participants, the importance of Belarus far exceeds the level of international attention it currently receives.
The roundtable was held within the framework of the European Union’s EU4Belarus: Support to Advanced Learning and Training (SALT II) initiative.
Collective monograph on decolonization
The Department of Belarusian Studies at the University of Warsaw published a collective monograph titled “Belarus Through the Eyes of Youth: Studies in Decolonization”. The publication features contributions by young scholars from the University of Warsaw, researchers from the United States, and independent academics. The studies examine canonical texts by Kastus Kalinouski, Francišak Bahuševič, and Vatslaw Lastowski, as well as works by contemporary authors such as Alhierd Bacharevič and Uladzimir Nyaklyayew. Other topics include the situation of Jews in Belarus during the First World War, representations of the Holocaust in theater, and the history of Belarusian orthography.
Seminar on a possible Belarusian university in exile
An online seminar titled “Institutional Future and Practical Solutions: The Possibility of Establishing a Belarusian University in Exile” took place on April 21, 2026.
Participants discussed the situation surrounding the European Humanities University following its designation as an “extremist organization”. The project of the Astafei Valovich Belarusian Research University was also presented. The discussions addressed examples of educational institutions and research centers created by émigré communities, including the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University, the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, and the Technion initiatives in Palestine, among others.
The seminar was held as part of a project studying and analyzing the state of Belarusian historical scholarship in exile. The project is implemented with financial support from the EU4Belarus: Support to Advanced Learning and Training (SALT II) program.
Presentation of the monograph “Belarusians in the Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)”
On April 15, 2026, the Ivan Lutskievič Belarusian Museum in Vilnius hosted the presentation of the monograph “Belarusians in the Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)” by historian and Vytautas Magnus University lecturer Tomasz Błaszczak. The monograph explores the life of the Belarusian minority in interwar Lithuania, analyzing the position of Belarusians after Lithuania regained independence, their participation in public life, and the activities of Belarusian schools, organizations, and publishing houses. The book represents an important scholarly contribution to understanding the history of Belarusian-Lithuanian relations and the role of Belarusians in the Republic of Lithuania during that period.
