Education system

The system of education in Belarusis similar to those in post-soviet countries.

Education starts with nurseries and kindergartens, which children attend from the earliest age till they are about five or six years old. Kindergartens allow parents to go to work instead of babysitting, and provide kids with a range of activities like drawing, reading, etc. Kindergartens are state-owned and free, or private, for which parents pay.

At the age of six or seven children pass an interview with the local school teachers and go to school. Primary and secondary education is compulsory and for all children, as long as their parents don’t take them to paid private schools.

Primary school lasts for 4 years, secondary for 5 years (obligatory), then there are 3 more years in high school after which a student can apply for university studies which go on for 5 years. Instead of attending high school a student may decide to enter a specialized college for 3-4 years. After graduating from such a college a student is eligible to enter first and sometime third year of university.