For the sixth year in a row, the First Belarusian Online School has been offering families who have found themselves in emigration a school with a Belarusian focus. The independent educational institution has officially opened applications for the 2026/27 academic year.
Founded in 2020 by Belarusian actress and musician Anastasiya Shpakouskaya, the online school has helped 292 children during this time.
“During our work, we have already held six graduations of pupils and issued a total of 73 certificates of basic education and 29 certificates of secondary education of the Ukrainian state standard,” the institution’s team notes.
The geography of the pupils is representative: children from 12 countries study at the school, including Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, Spain and even Japan and the UAE. For many of them, this is the only way to maintain a connection with Belarusian culture while being thousands of kilometres from home.
How Is This School Different From Others?
The institution’s main principle is a full-fledged educational process, not just optional classes.
- Enrollment is open for grades 4-10, with subsequent completion through grade 11 inclusive (the school’s organisers cannot enroll pupils only in grade 11 because of the requirements of Ukrainian legislation).
- Online learning takes place five days a week, with 4-5 lessons a day.
- Each class has a small number of pupils (from 3 to 7-8 children), which can be regarded practically as individual tutoring and allows children to learn the material better.
- Homework is assigned to consolidate the material covered.
- Lessons are based on the Belarusian curriculum in Russian and Belarusian. The subject of Ukrainian language and literature is taught in Ukrainian, but the children have absolutely no problem communicating with the teacher.
- There is no ideology or propaganda of any kind — at the school, children are taught mutual respect, empathy and support.
The school is a non-profit organisation. Many Belarusian families in emigration face financial difficulties, so the school is actively seeking support to be able to teach children regardless of their parents’ means.
“I am proud that our team continues to work and believe in the future of our children, says Shpakouskaya. I am proud that we have the opportunity to keep tuition fees low and provide our pupils with a quality education. We are starting a new enrollment of pupils for the next academic year, and we will be glad if all children who need help with certification and studies come to us.”
You can learn more about the school’s educational process here.
You can support the initiative here.
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