The Minister of Education of Belarus Alexander Redkov announced at a Council of Ministers session dedicated to the discussion of the 2007-2016 general public education program, that by 2011 Belarus will have the lowest rates of primary school enrollment since the country’s independence, reported Telegraf information agency. According to Redkov, reported the news source, the number of students in 2011 will be only about 1 million. The minister added that by 2016, the number of schoolchildren is expected to increase to 1.08 million.

The minister of education explained the significant and sudden decrease in the number of children going to school by the existing “demographic gap,” reported Telegraph. To counter the impact of these changes, the government of Belarus plans to shut down 353 schools that lack promise while opening 89 new schools, the news source reported, citing Redkov.  Under the 2007-2016 federal education program, there are also plans to increase the number of post-primary schools in the country, such as lyceums and gymnasiums.

This information was originally published May 29, 2007 (www.telegraf.by)