MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

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International Mother Language Day is celebrated today by the entire world community. Every nation has a unique culture, history, traditions, lifestyle and language. A very important task is to preserve the linguistic roots of both a large nation and the smallest nationality.

Director of the Yakub Kolas Institute of Linguistics, Center for Research of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Igor Kopylov, is convinced: “The preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity in the world is an important problem. Language is the key to understanding the spiritual origin of a nation and its centuries-old culture. We are obliged to protect our mother language and popularize it.”

According to the head of the sector for supporting the national study of the quality of education and international research in this area of the Academy of Education, Vyacheslav Korotkevich, Belarusian language is becoming increasingly popular among young people, it is a certain indicator of intellectuality. About a third of graduates of general secondary education institutions use Belarusian in everyday life. A survey on civil culture done in the end of 2022 showed 90% of responding graduates of general secondary institutions name Belarusian their mother language.

Currently, specialists from the Academy of Education are developing a new standard for general secondary, preschool and special educational institutions, which will also ensure equality between the Belarusian and Russian languages. The number of Belarusian-language educational institutions has also stabilized.
Numerous thematic events dedicated to Mother Language Day are held in all educational institutions. Schools host conferences, seminars, quizzes, competitions, literary lounges, and Weeks of the Belarusian Language and Literature.

From February 6 to 26, the Yakub Kolas Institute of Linguistics of the Center for Research of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus holds lectures, round tables, presentations, master classes, interactive classes, meetings and educational and entertainment events. All of them are devoted to the problem of preserving, developing and promoting the Belarusian language.

For example, dialectologists will hold a meeting with students of gymnasium No. 22 in Minsk on the topic «Беларускія гаворкі» (Belarusian Dialects), during which they will talk about the features of Belarusian folk dialects and show the film «Беларускія гаворкі» “Belarusian Gavorki”. An educational seminar «Як перамагчы ў навуковым конкурсе: 10 парад ад спецыялістаў» (How to win a Science Competition: 10 hints from experts) will also be organized.

The Republican dictation on the Belarusian language will be held today at the Yakub Kolas Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences, dedicated to the International Mother Language Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders.

In order to promote Belarusian culture and the native language, the Belarusian National Technical University also actively hosts the Mother Language Week from February 19 to 24. Among the organized events is the campaign «Размаўляй са мной па-беларуску» (Speak Belarusian with me); flash mob «Мая беларуская мова» (My Belarusian language) It contains reading poems dedicated to the Belarusian language. A dictation in Belarusian language «Роднае слова» (Native words) and artistic meeting with the grandson of Yakub Kolas Konstantin Mitskevich.

The National Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala will host readings of works of Belarusian literature. The format of the event assumes that senior officials, heads of ministries, and media persons will read excerpts from the works of Belarusian classics from the stage. Together with them, ordinary citizens – workers in the social sphere, culture, industrial enterprises, and students will also perform their excerpts.