The best of the best. Lukashenko's decree improves the mechanism for supporting gifted and talented youth

Head of State Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 429 "On the Activities of Special Funds of the President of the Republic of Belarus," the press service of the Belarusian leader informed BELTA.

The document is aimed at ensuring targeted state support for the best of the best representatives of gifted and talented youth, creating favorable conditions for the further development of their scientific and creative potential, and stimulating youth initiatives for the benefit of the country.

The decree provides for the improvement of the mechanism for supporting talented and gifted youth by the special funds of the President and the consolidation of the highest status of recipients of awards from the head of state. Excessive detailing and duplication of certain norms are excluded, 9 normative legal acts regulating the activities of the funds are recognized as invalid, fixed budget expenditures for these purposes are established, and the procedure for forming and maintaining databases of gifted and talented youth is clarified.

It is planned to annually award about 500 people with awards from the fund for supporting gifted youth and about 150 people from the fund for supporting talented youth.

The types of awards from the funds have been unified. The following awards have been established: Grand Prize, Special Prize, awards "For Contribution to the Training of Gifted Youth" and "For Contribution to the Upbringing of Talented Youth," and material support - a grant. Prizes, incentive scholarships, and financial assistance have been excluded.

The amounts of payments for outstanding achievements for students, creative teams who took first to third places in competitions have been significantly increased, which will allow the funds received to be directed towards the creation of works of art and research, the purchase of materials, costumes, and instruments. The amounts of incentives range from 40 to 150 base units. For educators who have nurtured and prepared gifted and talented youth, a reward of 40 to 60 base units is provided.

The personal responsibility of local managers for the quality and reliability of materials submitted to the funds' councils for applicants is being strengthened. Information regarding candidates for fund incentives will undergo in-depth verification. A procedure for depriving individuals awarded by the funds of their incentives and restoring their rights is envisaged.

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