November 19, Elena Voitekhovich, chief specialist of the department of social, educational and ideological work of the main department of educational work and youth policy of the Ministry of Education, told how one of the priority pedagogical tasks is being implemented.

"One of the priority pedagogical tasks is to develop the readiness of young people to marry and start a family. The issues of understanding the family as a personal value and a responsible attitude towards it are included in the content of the curriculum for the subject "Social Science" to be mastered by students in grades 9-11. Thus, in the course of mastering the discipline, such issues as family relations, marriage and family, types and functions of the family, family as a value, preservation and strengthening of traditional Belarusian family values are studied. In order to create conditions for maximum self-realization of young men and women in the educational process, schools hold separate lessons for boys and girls in the subjects "Labor Training", "Physical Education and Health", "Pre-conscription Medical Training". Thus, schoolchildren are prepared to fulfill traditional family roles in society. In institutions of general secondary education, educational work is organized taking into account the age characteristics of students in the form of optional classes, thematic round tables, discussions, conversations, meetings with representatives of the health care sector, the Belarusian Orthodox Church and other specialists on issues specifically family education," said Elena Voitekhovich.

In addition, in order to form a value-based attitude of the younger generation to the institution of marriage and family, a program of optional classes "Fundamentals of Family Life" has been implemented in schools for students in grades 9-11 since 2019. "The curriculum of the elective involves studying such topics as love in a person's life, family and law, the importance of family for a person and society. Teachers tell young people how to prepare for future family life, create a happy family, avoid conflicts in the family, talk about parenting as a conscious choice of a man and a woman. Schools provide for a practice-oriented focus of these elective classes, the use of such active forms of training as trainings, discussions, round tables, etc. Also, in general secondary education institutions, the republican project "Parents' University" is being implemented, the purpose of which is to provide parents with the necessary social and pedagogical support and psychological assistance, the formation of parental competencies, and strengthening parent-child relationships. The project uses various forms of work, including the use of information and communication technologies. These are both traditional parent meetings and webinars, online consultations, posting information on the websites of educational institutions, as well as the preparation of information booklets for parents, organizing events for the sixth school day with the participation of the parent community. "Programs for pedagogical education of parents are implemented in 2080 schools, including on the sixth school day," the representative of the Ministry of Education informed.

The education system of Belarus maintains measures of social support for students with a provided system of benefits. "There have been no significant changes in this area recently. Among such support measures are benefits for the use of textbooks and teaching aids, provision of meals, scholarships, financial assistance and other cash payments, provision of places in dormitories, organization of transportation to the place of study, provision of a loan on preferential terms to pay for the first higher education, provision of vacations," added Elena Voitekhovich.