Introduction
In 2021-2025, a steady trend towards the strengthening of ideological and military-patriotic education gradually developed in the Belarusian education system. Over the past four years, Belarus has undergone an evolutionary transition from targeted initiatives to systematic ideologization and militarization of the education system, which is reflected in staff, program, and educational aspects.
We define the militarization of education as the introduction into the education and upbringing system of elements related to military training, patriotic education, state ideology, and strengthening ties with Belarusian law enforcement agencies.
In recent years, the process of militarization of Belarusian education has developed steadily and included the following elements:
— introduction of heads of military-patriotic education in schools;
— the emergence of military-patriotic clubs;
— expansion of the network of law enforcement-oriented educational institutions;
— the strengthening of the militarized component in curricula;
— the emergence of new militarized tournaments in the education system;
— active imposition of military-oriented classes in general secondary education institutions.
In fact, by 2025, a comprehensive state model of military-patriotic education has been established, covering virtually all levels of education.
1. Military-patriotic clubs and organization
2. Introduction of positions for heads of military-patriotic education
3. Expansion of the network of law enforcement-oriented educational institutions
4. Strengthening of the militarized component in curricula
5. Training in UAV control
6. Militarized tournaments and games, assistance to law enforcement agencies
7. Military-patriotic classes
8. Agitation for enrollment in “law enforcement” universities and service in the army
Conclusion
The period from 2021 to 2025 in the Belarusian education system is characterized by a gradual and purposeful strengthening of ideological and military-patriotic education, as well as militarization. The process covers all levels of education.
By 2025, the militarization of Belarus’s education system has become firmly established, manifesting itself in various areas of work with children and young people.
The most actively militarized component is being imposed at the school education level, where it has become a familiar element of the educational process over the past four years. There has been a significant increase in militarization over the past few years at the college and university level. Only at the preschool level is the process of militarization proceeding at a slow pace and is not yet systematic, although over the past few years we have seen constant attempts by the authorities to change this trend.
The militarization of Belarusian education is expressed in the institutional consolidation of military elements, the sustained interaction of schools and universities with law enforcement agencies, and the alignment of educational goals with the objectives of state ideology. Thus, education is becoming one of the tools for the military training of adolescents and young people, the renewal of the personnel of the security forces, and the formation of a young generation loyal to the current regime in Belarus, which is extremely necessary for its survival in the future.
The full analytical report on militarization of Belarus’s education system can be read or downloaded VIA THE LINK.
Материал доступен на русском языке: Милитаризация системы образования Беларуси
