As part of the implementation of Union State activities, from October 29 to November 3, 2023, the final stage of the Union State schoolchildren’s Olympiad “Russia and Belarus: historical and spiritual community” is taking place in Brest.

Holding such a large-scale event as the Union State School Olympiad within the Union State contributes to the implementation of the main goals of the Union State in the field of social policy, including the civic and patriotic education of the younger generation and the formation of a unified educational space.

The qualifying stage of the Olympiad took place in September-October 2023. The composition of the teams participating in the final stage of the Olympiad (6 representatives from the region) was formed from among the winners of the qualifying stage.

The final stage of the Olympiad for schoolchildren of the Union State "Russia and Belarus: historical and spiritual community" will be held until November 3 on the grounds of secondary school No. 1 in Brest. More than 170 students in grades 10-11 in 29 teams will take part in the intellectual competition. Including 120 high school students representing educational institutions from 19 regions of Russia, more than 50 from all regions of Belarus. The program includes two rounds: writing an essay and comprehensive work on the Russian language and literature. The children will also take part in creative competitions in rhetorical skills and expressive literary reading. Famous Belarusian and Russian philologists, leading university teachers, and practicing teachers have been invited to join the jury.

Before the opening ceremony of the Olympiad “Russia and Belarus: historical and spiritual community”, a civil patriotic event “We are faithful to the memory of heroes” took place today at the memorial complex “Brest Hero Fortress”.

The event in the fortress became a kind of official beginning of this forum. Teachers and members of the jury of the Olympiad, together with students, laid wreaths and flowers at the Eternal Flame of the memorial and honored the memory of the fallen defenders of the citadel with a minute of silence. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the leadership of the Ministry of Education, the Brest Regional Executive Committee, and representatives of the memorial complex.

“The Schoolchildren Olympiad is a unique event, one of the hallmarks of the Union State. It has been held since 2004 alternately in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. At its core, it is a competition in Russian literature. But the essence of the event is not to highlight the best schoolchildren who speak Russian language. Our task as organizers is to create maximum conditions for the children to communicate with each other, get acquainted with the cities and history of our countries. This is a platform for further relationships, which, I am sure, will develop between these young citizens,” said Deputy Minister of Education Alexander Kadlubay.

He also noted that in Belarus the event is equal to international olympiads, the winners of which have a number of preferences when entering universities. For example, they are admitted to the Faculty of Philology of BSU without exams. “In addition, the Ministry constantly prepares lists of winners, which are submitted to the President’s special fund for supporting talented youth. And, as a rule, the winners become laureates of the fund,” the deputy minister noted.

A large cultural and excursion program is planned, allowing students, primarily Russian schoolchildren, to get acquainted with the historical past and cultural traditions of the Belarusian people.

Thematic concert programs, friendship evenings, and meetings with famous writers will be organized for the Olympiad participants.

The organizers of the Olympiad are the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.