Belarus Sees Teaching Boom, But Physics & Math Shortage Persists
Belarus is witnessing a surge in students pursuing pedagogical specialties, with nearly 4,000 starting university courses in 2025. Over a third of these students are graduates of pedagogical classes. Each year, over 5,000 young specialists join schools, with most staying in their assigned positions. This growth comes as the number of students admitted to these specialties has increased by about 50% in the past three years.
Despite the increase in new teachers, Belarus faces a persistent shortage of physics and mathematics teachers, a problem that has existed since 2023. As of the 2025/2026 academic year, around 114,000 educational workers were employed, but schools are still struggling to fill these crucial positions. In 2025 alone, over 3,000 future teachers started their studies in colleges, yet the gap remains.
To address this shortage, engineering class graduates are being accepted without exams to join the teaching workforce. However, it is unclear which trained teachers will cover the gaps in physics and mathematics in Belarusian schools in 2026. With 20 universities and 19 colleges training educational professionals, the country is working to ensure that every student has access to quality education.
Belarus is experiencing a significant increase in students pursuing teaching careers, with over 4,000 starting university courses in 2025. While the country is making efforts to address the shortage of physics and mathematics teachers, including accepting engineering class graduates without exams, the issue persists. As of the 2025/2026 academic year, around 114,000 educational workers are employed, but the demand for teachers in these subjects remains high. The future of Belarus's educational workforce is being shaped by these trends, with the aim of providing quality education to all students.
