According to a statement from Belarus’ Minister of Education, in just the past two years, 57 university programs have been discontinued, and starting from the new academic year, universities will have to shut all programs that are outside their focus field. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Education and Science, Tatiana Shchyttsova, comments on these developments.
The professor points out that this decision is part of a highly questionable policy. Such changes may be the result of a shrinking academic staff, including forced emigration, which has particularly affected certain universities and fields of study. Ms. Shchyttsova also highlights the chronic underfunding of Belarus’ education system. By cutting programs, the authorities may be aiming to consolidate disciplines within a small circle of controlled institutions.
Tatiana Shchyttsova: “To be completely honest, this is not about improving education quality – on the contrary, the system continues to push out those who are actually capable of ensuring that quality. Under these conditions, statements about ‘qualified education’ are either naive or cynical. Because today, the main criterion for faculty selection is personal loyalty”.
