Belarus is an Eastern European country that is known for instilling cultural pride and a love of the arts in its schools. Although it gained independence from Russia in 1991, the larger country has an influence on many school subjects including studying Russian as a second language. There are fewer required grades for students than American children, and a few controversial subjects.
Grade Groups
The Belarusian president’s official website states there are ten grades in the country’s school system. Preschool, while not required, is something most children attend as well.
Elementary school begins at age six and then students go to lower secondary school. After Belarusian children finish mandatory education they may attend specialized schools called Gymnasium or Lyceum.
“Gymnasium offers in-depth humanitarian education and focuses on the study of foreign languages. Lyceums provide professionally-oriented education and are generally affiliated with research or higher education institutions.”
Curriculum Differences (From U.S.)
Students at the primary levels are required to learn multiple languages (among other things). Their language subjects include Russian, Belarusian, and a foreign language elective. Others include Belarusian History, Music, and Physical Education. The arts are divided into Arts and Crafts and Visual Art.
Finally, there is a subject called Man and the World. It is defined as a combination of Philosophy, Belarusian culture and values, and morality studies. However, some citizens argue that this subject promotes narrow points of view. It is not without conflict among parents.
Students in secondary school learn Russian, Belarusian, Physics, Belarusian (and World) History, Biology, Math, a foreign language, “technical drawing, social sciences, data processing, specialized training, computer studies, physical education, and music.” A basic certification of education is awarded to those who complete what is legally required.
Private vs. Public Schools
Strict and arguably fascist lessons are instilled in students regardless of where their school’s funding comes from. There is a heavy emphasis on militaristic education and steadfast loyalty to one’s country. “There were 3,003 state-funded secondary schools and 17 private secondary schools in the 2019-2020 academic year…” states the government’s website.
PISA Ranking of Belarus vs. U.S.
The Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, is a worldwide evaluation of fifteen-year-old pupils’ Mathematics, Reading, and Science proficiency. Belarus was slightly below the international average score in all three subjects as of 2018.
“Across 79 countries that participated… Belarus ranked 36th in reading, 38th in mathematics, and 37th in science”
According to the Organisation for Economic, Co-operation, and Development’s 2018 results, the maximum international assessment score of each subject of participating countries was 600. Mean general international scores that year were 487 in Reading, 489 in Mathematics, and 489 in Science. The country’s scores then were 474 in Reading, 471 in Science, and 472 in Mathematics.
No Standardized Testing
When young adults are admitted to college they simply pick their major. There are no equivalents to the American College Testing exam or Scholastic Assessment Test. However, some universities require that potential students pass a Russian and/or Belarusian language exam.
College
The country’s universities are dedicated to specific fields such as Medical, Technical, and Business. Most colleges cost between one-thousand and six-thousand American dollars per year to attend. While the tuition fees are considered some of the cheapest in Europe, some fields such as Medicine are more expensive.
Belarus values subjects such as foreign languages, Philosophy, and Art. Some may argue that the small country’s system is inferior due to ranking below the United States as of PISA’s 2018 report. However, its lack of standardized testing and cheap annual tuition are advantages for dreamers.
Read more education-related articles from around the globe on our Zealousness blog Education Around the World Archives – iN Education Inc.
Sources:
- “Pre-Primary and Secondary Education in Belarus | Official Internet Portal of the President of the Republic of Belarus.” n.d. President.gov.by. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://president.gov.by/en/belarus/social/education/school.
- “The Belarus K-12 Education System Primary and Secondary Education.” 2025. Belaruseducation.info. 2025. https://www.belaruseducation.info/k12/belarus-k-12-education-system.html.
- “The Programme for International Student.” 2018. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/about/programmes/edu/pisa/publications/national-reports/pisa-2018/featured-country-specific-overviews/PISA2018_CN_BLR.pdf.
