Minsk, 28 October. Final stage of the Union State School Olympiad kicked off in Vitebsk. About 200 talented students representing all regions of Belarus as well as students from 24 territories of Russia gathered together in Vitebsk to show their high level of knowledge and strengthen the existing friendly environment between our people.

The Olympiad is more than an intellectual competition. Its key aim is to develop cultural and educational cooperation, to awake interest to common historical and literature heritage and teach youngsters patriotism and civil responsibility.

The program includes a comprehensive course on Russian language and literature, essay writing, a creative competition in rhetorical skills and expressive reading. Leading scholars, university professors, and experienced teachers from Belarus and Russia serve as judges.

As Angela Kudoyarova, consultant for the Department of General Secondary Education of the Main Department of General Secondary and Preschool Education of the Ministry of Education of Belarus, noted, Olympiad assignments are evaluated using a strict scoring system: "There are clear criteria: research quality and appropriate use of artistic devices such as metaphors and epithets. Participants often demonstrate high results. For example, if a student scores 48-49 points out of 50, they are already strong contenders for an award."

Winners and runners-up shall receive first, second, and third-degree diplomas in the individual competition. Particular attention is paid to the overall winner - the one with the highest score. The winner receives a prize from the Union State Organizing Committee, and there is also a second-place award. The Belarusian schoolchildren who win receive a prize from the Special Fund of the President of Belarus for the Social Support of Gifted Pupils and Students.

The Union State School Olympiad is annually included in the list of international olympiads. This gives eleventh-graders the right to preferential admission to higher education institutions in their field of study as participation in it is equivalent to participation in an international olympiad.

However, the olympiad is not only an intellectual competition. A rich cultural program is prepared for participants: excursions to picturesque places in the Vitebsk region, meetings with renowned writers and cultural figures, themed concerts, and friendship evenings.

This large-scale event is an important step in achieving key objectives: creating a unified educational space, strengthening spiritual and cultural ties, and raising a new generation that understands and values ​​the shared history, culture, and future of the two fraternal peoples.