English

No “charlatans” should be allowed into science, Lukashenka says

 

No “charlatans” should be allowed into science, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Tuesday in Minsk, speaking to a group of youths following a ceremony marking the start of the construction of Mahistr (Magister), a housing estate for research and art workers.

Lukashenka said he was opposed to universities giving academic ranks and degrees as is the case in a number of countries. He noted that he would like the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) to continue to do this in Belarus because, according to him, this would prevent occasional people from buying an academic rank for money and getting into the scientific community.

"That disease came to us as well and I then had to set up a barrier because I respect researchers' labor," the Belarusian leader said, according to the government's news agency BelTA. "And I did not regret this. We appoint the most honest people [to the HAC]. I have too deep respect for researchers to allow various sorts of charlatans to buy a dissertation for a few thousand dollars and align themselves with talented people of science."

Mr. Lukashenka noted that he had in fact banned government officials from trying to obtain an academic degree. "I know that if you are a public servant and work around the clock, you will never have time for a PhD dissertation," he said. "It is very difficult to do this. There are people who can, but they are few." //BelaPAN