Published:28.11.2023
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<img width="1024" alt="фото СБ Беларусь Сегодня" src="/upload/medialibrary/3e0/iqmj7dhd0u0fqs9trnq7uy5oztmvd76b.jpg" height="683" title="фото СБ Беларусь Сегодня">
</p>
Recently, students of various universities saw the full cost of paid education. Parents feel worried. Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets explained the matter.
It is noted that those students who receive education on a paid basis reimburse from 50 to 70%. Therefore, the Ministry of Education has organized work to bring uniformity to contracts for the training of specialists in budget and paid forms of education.
In the contract for training a specialist on a budget form, there is a separate article on budget expenses for training.
In this regard, a similar article will be included in the agreements on training on a paid form of education.
The head of the department emphasized that now this document is of an informational nature, so that every paying student understands how much he pays, what costs the state and the university spend for his preparation.
Changes shall be made to the general standard agreement. It is expected that by the beginning of 2024, these changes will be made to all agreements under which students study in both colleges and universities.
The Ministry of Education is also considering the issue of increasing the cost of payment, since the state incurs serious costs.
“More than one billion rubles have been allocated from the republican budget for the functioning of higher education institutions. And this amount does not include the costs of capital construction. Just this year we opened two dormitories for our students of the Belarusian State Medical University and the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics. Construction is also underway on two more dormitories scheduled to open next year – the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture and the Belarusian National Technical University,” said Andrei Ivanets.
Regarding the amount indicated in the training agreement, the Minister informed: the procedure for calculating the cost of training spending is determined by Resolution of the Ministry of Education No. 210, which was adopted back in 2011. Since then, this resolution has not undergone any major changes.
Logically, the question is: why there is an urgent need to reimburse education fees right now? The answer is easy to find. For quite a long time, the increase in tuition fees went at a very slow pace. For example, if last year wage growth was at 16%, then the cost of training was raised by less than 7%. And this trend of restraining growth has been observed over a number of recent years. That is why there is now such an accumulated cumulative effect.
What is included in the costs? As the Minister noted, nothing supernatural. 80% of costs – salaries of teaching staff; payment of housing and utility bills; salaries of teaching, support and other personnel, and social insurance contributions. In addition, the state bears the costs of ensuring a full-fledged educational process, organizing practice, purchasing educational materials and furniture.
“We see that even over the past five years, our universities have seriously changed, modern equipment is being purchased, repair work is being carried out, all the necessary conditions are being created to ensure that every student feels comfortable, and as a result we will receive a qualified specialist with the in-demand knowledge.”, stated the head of the department.
Regarding the day of increase in fees, it is noted that in accordance with the resolution of the Ministry of Education, tuition fees must be economically justified. The increase in cost will be no more than an increase in spending, that grow annually by approximately 15 - 17%. It is assumed that the increase in the amount for training will not exceed this figure.
It is also indicated that over the past two years, the Ministry of Education has been carrying out systematic work to increase the number of budget places for students both at the level of secondary specialized education and higher education.
So, if two years ago the number of paid applicants who were admitted for the first year was about 65% of the total enrollment, then this year the figure reversed and the number of budget students was 60% and 40% paid.
The minister expressed the hope that next admissions campaign, approximately 30% of the children will enroll in a paid form of education, and 70% - in a budget-funded one.
“Why are we moving this path? Today our economy needs highly qualified specialists. First of all, it is necessary to significantly increase enrollment in the budgetary form of education in such areas as medicine, pedagogy, of course, we need specialists for the agro-industrial complex and engineering personnel. In this regard, I would like to appeal to parents and applicants and assure that every graduate, young person who studies well, strives for knowledge, consciously chooses a profession, will have the opportunity to receive a qualitative education,” emphasized Andrey Ivanets.
Regarding the issue of concern to parents and students about the work off for payers, in this regard, the Minister indicated that the Ministry of Education advocates a unified approach to the training of specialists. Changes to the legislative framework will affect those who will enroll in Belarusian colleges or universities after the new regulations come into force. Therefore, today's students of a paid form will not have to work off.
Press-center of the Ministry of Education.