A state commission has been established in Belarus to control the preparation and conduct of entrance examinations to universities and secondary vocational schools.

May 17, Minsk /Corr. BELTA/. A state commission has been established in Belarus to monitor the preparation and conduct of entrance examinations to higher and secondary specialized educational institutions in 2011. As reported to BELTA by the press service of the President of Belarus, the head of state signed Decree No. 190 "On the organization of the admission campaign to higher and secondary specialized educational institutions in 2011" on May 16. The decree was adopted to provide citizens with equal opportunities for admission to higher and secondary specialized educational institutions and to ensure control over the preparation and conduct of entrance examinations. The commission includes members of the Council of the Republic and deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, heads of state administration bodies, representatives of public organizations, and employees of control bodies. The commission is designed to ensure control over the preparation and conduct of centralized testing and other forms of entrance examinations, and to provide applicants with equal opportunities for admission to higher and secondary specialized educational institutions. Its functions also include taking measures to eliminate identified violations of regulatory legal acts governing the organization and conduct of admission to higher and secondary specialized educational institutions, receiving citizens' applications on issues related to the preparation and conduct of entrance examinations, and ensuring media coverage of the commission's work. -0-