Lukashenko states the need to start the educational process in schools from next week

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko states the need to commence the educational process in schools starting from next week.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko states the need to commence the educational process in schools starting from next week. He announced this today during a working trip to the Lida District of the Grodno Region, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

"We need to carefully monitor people and regarding education, schools, and so on, we must start studying. But slowly, calmly. There are no problems in the countryside (well, one must understand that we feed the children and everyone is busy with sowing, where else to put the children). And there are no problems there. ARVI has already ended," said the head of state.

"Therefore, if they can study somewhere – let them study. If it's somewhere in the city, then a week should be spent on slowly drawing children back into the educational process by the end of the week after Easter. We need to gradually start studying. And during that week, some will come individually, some will come to school... But this process needs to be ramped up," believes the Belarusian leader.

School holidays in Belarus were extended twice, each time by a week. In early April, Minister of Education Igor Karpenco reported to the head of state on the situation, having previously gathered opinions and requests from parents of students. Following this, a decision was made to extend the spring holidays from April 6 to April 11 inclusive. They were then extended for another week.

"Taking into account the developing epidemiological situation, the seasonal rise in incidence of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, and other infections, and the need to stabilize the situation, the head of state supported the proposal of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to extend the spring holidays in general secondary education institutions until April 18," explained the decision in the Presidential Administration.

The educational process in the fourth quarter will be carried out from April 20 to May 30. The Ministry of Education was tasked with adjusting the curricula and calendar-thematic planning for each academic subject through supporting and stimulating classes.