At the beginning of the academic year, as part of the “People’s Five-Year Plan” project, a thematic sociological study was conducted. More than 10.2 thousand citizen proposals, 20.1 thousand online survey responses, and 1.1 thousand blitz survey answers were collected. The following conclusions deserve particular attention:
1. Education is perceived as an investment in the future (53.93%). However, citizens believe that education alone — even higher education — is not sufficient to ensure personal well-being. Almost every second respondent considers hard work as a guarantee of success, every third — starting one’s own business, every fourth — having good connections, and every fifth — marriage.
2. The survey revealed a shift in social expectations regarding the education system. Today, the focus has moved from studying fundamental and applied disciplines to developing learning abilities (“learning to learn”), fostering well-rounded personalities, and preparing the younger generation for real life. The main expectation from higher education is professional self-realization (40.25%), while from vocational education — the relevance and value of the future profession, expressed through decent wages, good working conditions, and social respect (47.93%).
3. In general, citizens have adapted to new formats of exams and other innovations, such as mandatory school uniforms, restrictions on gadget use, and limited parental access to schools. At the same time, Belarusians are not inclined toward elitism.
For most respondents, the main criterion for fairness in the education system is accessibility (61.8%). The topic of private educational institutions is of little concern to citizens.
4. According to respondents, education obtained in Belarus is competitive on the global market. At the same time, there is a clear demand for expanding international recognition of Belarusian diplomas, especially considering the country’s new status as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and an observer in BRICS.