Belarus: Education and Health Care
Education and Health Care:
Many Belorussians enjoy basketball.
Near universal literacy was achieved in Belarus by the 1950s. Ten-year primary
and secondary education is free and compulsory; higher education is free, and
entrance is by examination. In higher and specialized secondary education the
Russian language predominates.
Medical services made dramatic advances in Belarus during the 20th century and
have been free since the early Soviet period. The quality of medical care has
declined since the 1970s, however, reflected in rising infant mortality and
lowered life expectancy.The impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on public
health was undoubtedly severe.
Major cities, in addition to Minsk, are the administrative centers: BREST,
Gomel' (Homel), Grodno (Hrodna), Mogilev (Mahiliou), and Vitebsk (Vitsebsk).
Back for more about Belarus