Minister Ivanets Accidentally Spilled The Truth About The State Of Education In Belarus
- 19.08.2026, 13:20
That Lukashenko official would be better off keeping quiet.
Education Minister Andriy Ivanets gave a lengthy interview on the eve of September 1. It wasn’t a policy statement, but it was very revealing. And it seems this is one of those cases where the official would have been better off keeping quiet to avoid saying too much. Let’s take a look at what the official left out and how, in passing, he revealed the real picture, writes “Solidarnast” .
In a recent interview with Onliner.by, every thought from Ivantsa is a praise of the existing education system, and every statement only raises more questions. Most importantly, the impression he gives of schools, their place in the state, the tasks of educators, and the role of the minister himself is far from rosy.
For example, the minister stated that he sees “absolutely no need” for tutors, claiming that all such efforts are merely attempts to cram an unmanageable amount of knowledge into students’ heads in order to quickly prepare them for exams.
In reality, however, in his view, the modern school curriculum is so simple that any parent should be able to recall and explain the subject to their child in simple terms. And “if a dad or mom can’t solve a fourth-grade math problem, then something has gone wrong with the parents.”
Let’s let the official in on an open secret: children continue to learn in school beyond fourth grade; problems and formulas get more complex; and parents aren’t necessarily teachers. The decision to hire a tutor, and the goals and objectives of these lessons, are entirely up to the individual family—not the Ministry of Education—no matter what the minister may think or how much he might want to deprive people of alternatives.
Oh, but there is an alternative—the minister was quick to point out that private education still exists in our country. A whopping six private schools and two kindergartens. Yes, yes—for the whole of Belarus.
What the official bashfully failed to mention when speaking about the simplicity of the school curriculum is that “blunders” are regularly found in Belarusian textbooks. Partly because just about anyone gets involved in rewriting them—from the Prosecutor General’s Office, which shapes the “correct” view of history, to a retiree known throughout the country who is either bothered by worms in the biology textbook or finds the philosophy textbook too heavy.
Interestingly, Ivanets, a graduate of the Chemistry Department at Belarusian State University, explained that he personally reviews and approves every textbook for every subject. He also shared a valuable insight: “Each of us thinks we know a thing or two about education, but then it turns out we don’t have a clue.”
It’s hard to disagree. So, maybe we shouldn’t interfere with the professionals and shift the teachers’ responsibilities onto parents?
What’s particularly ironic is that the minister doesn’t help his own children with their homework. It’s not a minister’s job, so to speak. His wife (a lawyer) takes the brunt of it. And he doesn’t attend parent-teacher conferences. In fact, he rarely takes his children to school at all.
One unasked question remained behind the scenes regarding “voluntary” class fund-raisers, but one can assume that at the school where the minister’s children attend, such things are miraculously not held.
But if only that were all. The minister was asked about bullying. His response is worth quoting in full:
“Schools have rules and regulations—if they’re followed, then by definition there can be no bullying there.” After all, it most often happens on social media—and if cell phones aren’t allowed at school, how could it possibly happen there?
In other words, according to the minister, what kind of bullying is this, and what does it have to do with schools?
Could someone please show Ivan old movies like *The Scarecrow* and *Dear Elena Sergeevna*? Back when there was no sign of social media or cell phones, but bullying still existed. Or send him to professional development courses where they’ll explain, just as those parents explained to their fourth-grader: bullying isn’t the “principal’s personal responsibility” or the parents’ private matter, but a major, systemic problem. And if they still don’t get it after that—maybe the minister’s seat isn’t really meant for him after all?
The minister speaks vaguely about improving the quality of education: he says we’re continuing our work. This year, 28 schools will introduce “on a pilot basis” in-depth study of an elective subject: math, physics, chemistry, or biology. It’s not entirely clear how this differs fundamentally from specialized classes and electives, which have already been part of Belarusian schools for many years.
What the official tried to present as an achievement—a “reversal of the pyramid” in the ratio of fee-paying to state-funded spots in universities (currently 65% state-funded and 35% fee-paying, and in regional universities, the ratio is 80% to 20%)—is, of course, not about the state’s desire to obtain as many new serf-like workers as possible.
It is a “response to the needs of the economy.” And for those who lack the intellectual capacity for university—welcome to community colleges, where you can learn a trade. And to the workbench. Not everyone can be a minister.
Exactly 0 (in words: zero) words in the interview were devoted to the militarization of education, to tactical medicine—which for some reason has become necessary for modern schoolchildren—or to the overtly ideological “information sessions” featuring discussions of genocide and other elements of “patriotic education.” Not even a word about the topic of the current first lesson in schools, with its empty and pompous title: “Knowledge Today—Strength and Prosperity for Belarus Tomorrow!”
On the other hand, according to Ivants, issues related to school meals are “priority number zero”—just as they are for his patron, who regularly inspects school cafeterias in person out of concern for the students’ happy childhood. As they say, no comment.