NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – It is necessary to resolve the problem of education institutions catering to specific government agencies by the end of the year. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave the relevant instruction at a Council of Ministers session on 10 March, BelTA has learned.
The president pointed out it is necessary to wisely spend money in systems of organizations run by various ministries and government agencies. As an example Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned a large number of advanced training institutions that operate under the aegis of specific government agencies. He believes it would be more prudent to use ordinary higher education institutions for that. “If you want to improve the qualification of your personnel, why don't you use regular universities? Why do you have to set up independent bodies and finance them? Wake up at last and look at how you spend money. Of course, you will not have enough teachers and medics because they do all kinds of god-knows-what jobs,” the Belarusian leader remarked.
A number of social issues were discussed as Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko presented his report. The conversation touched upon the operation of education, healthcare, and culture institutions. The advanced training institute of the Labor and Social Protection Ministry was looked at as an example. The president asked Labor and Social Protection Minister Irina Kostevich to explain the justification for a separate advanced training institute. “The industry has 40,000 people. It is multifaceted and versatile,” the minister responded. “We improve qualifications of 1,500-1,800 people every year.” For instance, those are social security specialists, rehabilitation workers, who master new approaches to social rehabilitation.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “The very essence of the system is a problem: if you want rehabilitation, then [arrange advanced training classes] in a rehabilitation center. Why do you have to bring a professor to the fifth floor of the ministry? Bring him to where rehabilitation takes place.”
The president went on saying: “We have no money to burn. Your case is not so bad. Only 60 [workers employed by the advanced training institute under the ministry]. But every minister has these universities and institutes.”
Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov explained that the functions ministries are supposed to perform are often shifted to these institutes. “This is how the personnel numbers we set for the state machine are inflated by these incomprehensible agency-affiliated bodies,” the chairman identified the problem.
After hearing out arguments for and against, Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an instruction to sort out the problem of such institutes in all branches of the economy by the year end. Trimming is in order, the head of state summarized.
On the whole, Aleksandr Lukashenko said he wanted every issue straightened out. The instruction applies to all government agencies, including defense, security, and law enforcement ones.
“We should bring everything to an ideal state,” the president stressed.
