Independent Belarusian Education Is Crucial for the Country’s Future, Tsikhanouskaya Says

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met today with representatives of educational and academic initiatives in Warsaw.

According to the Office of Tsikhanouskaya, the meeting held at the Belarusian Solidarity Centre was attended by representatives of the Free Belarusian University, the Belarusian School in Warsaw, the Institute of Public History, the Personnel Reserve initiative, and a number of other organisations, as well as representatives of the United Transitional Cabinet, Pavel Barkouski and Yury Hubarevich.

“It is very important for us to understand how the environment of Belarusian educational initiatives is functioning today so that we can effectively advocate for your needs with international partners. Preserving the Belarusian language, schools, history, and academic work are fundamentally important for the future of the country. And I want to express words of support and gratitude to you: in such difficult conditions, you find the strength and resolve to continue working in this direction,” Tsikhanouskaya said.

The main topics of discussion included:

• possibilities for financial support for independent Belarusian education and science;
• issues of recognition of the professional status of scholars and teachers in Poland and the involvement of researchers in international projects;
• registration and accreditation procedures and integration into Poland’s formal education system;
• visa support for Belarusian researchers;
• educational adaptation of children in emigration;
• the need for Belarusian-language textbooks.