Lukashenko calls for patriotic focus in higher education

Belarusian universities need to focus on patriotic components of the educational process, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he appointed new rectors to the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the country’s medical universities on 21 September, reports BelTA.

“Our education is great. Our specialists who receive education in Belarus are valued across the globe. We always complain about a human capital flight and even our so-called opposition lament it. Are foreign countries interested in fools? No, it is brain drain. It means we have such people. It means that they receive good education and go abroad to work,” Lukashenko said.

He also noted that a reverse process has been observed in recent years: people who once left the country start coming back. “It is impossible to hold anyone by force today. We need a wise approach here. People should value their land. As for the Academy of Public Administration, it should cater only to patriotic people, loyal to the state and people. I have asked a humanities scholar to head the university. We lack patriotism in our people today,” the president said.
Full report on the BelTA site