Alexander Lukashenko: boarding schools for gifted kids in every oblast

VITEBSK, 10 July (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes it is necessary to set up boarding schools for gifted children in every oblast. He made the relevant statement on 10 July as he visited the Luzhesno boarding school for talented and gifted children of the Vitebsk oblast. “If there is a need and experience, one should think about setting up similar educational establishments everywhere in Belarus,” said the head of state. The Luzhesno boarding school for talented and gifted children mainly offers quality education to children who live in rural areas. 40% of the students come from low-income families while 24% of the students are orphans. The school is a versatile educational establishment. A system of tests is used to admit students. At present there are 275 students there. Over the 15 years of its existence the school has educated 1,047 winners of regional academic excellence competitions, 340 winners of oblast ones, 195 winners of national ones and 13 winners of international ones. Besides, 156 students have been awarded prizes of the Belarus President special fund for social support for gifted students. The school closely cooperates with many Belarusian universities. Out of 798 graduates 787 have entered universities, 11 — vocational schools. According to the President, the Luzhesno practices used to educate talented children from rural areas should be utilised everywhere in the country. “If there is a need in every oblast, talented kids should be chosen for relevant education,” said the head of state. He underscored that it is necessary to pick out and support talented kids at early stages of a person’s development so that they would not get lost in their lives. “It is the foundation of the state. When we support these children, we will have industry, agriculture, sports and tourism,” said Alexander Lukashenko. Such educational establishments will be created at premises of existing ones using the technologies and methods, which are similar to those the Luzhesno boarding school for talented and gifted children uses. Alexander Lukashenko examined classrooms, living rooms, the gym and exercise rooms, the swimming pool and the football field. Students arranged an impromptu performance for the President. Alexander Lukashenko planted a fir tree in the school’s courtyard.

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