Editing Pyotr Masherov (section)

=== Educational policy ===
With a background as a teacher, Masherov was immensely interested in the education of Belarusians, especially in sciences. Masherov worked with scientists from across the USSR, including [[Nikolai Borisevich]] (President of the Academy of Scientists of the Byelorussian SSR), [[Mstislav Keldysh]], [[Anatoly Alexandrov (physicist)|Anatoly Alexandrov]], [[Borys Paton]], [[Alexander Prokhorov]], [[Nikolay Basov]], and [[Nikita Moiseyev]], among others.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Babosov|first=Yevgeny|title=Comprehension of the Truth|pages=198–199}}</ref> Masherov worked tirelessly to get up-to-date equipment for institutes, including notably purchasing the first [[echocardiography]] machine in the BSSR for the Cardiography Research Institute.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Manak|first=Nikolai|title=I Trust You|pages=318}}</ref>
[[File:PSU and Blakhina street in Navapolack 1.jpg|left|thumb|[[Saint Euphrosyne Polotsk State University|Polotsk State University]], one of the universities constructed under Masherov's leadership, pictured in 2004]]
Masherov also promoted the expansion of educational institutions; the [[Brest State Technical University]], the [[Pavel Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel]], the [[Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts]], and [[Saint Euphrosyne Polotsk State University|Polotsk State University]] were all constructed by Masherov's government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Babosov|first=Yevgeny|title=Comprehension of the Truth|pages=200–218}}</ref> In regards to vocational education he brought in comprehensive measures to both improve the quality of education and decrease juvenile delinquency and took inspiration from [[Anton Makarenko]] in expanding education at [[Youth detention center|youth detention centres]]. Masherov also supported increased teaching of foreign languages as well as education on Belarusian culture.

Masherov retained good relations with the [[Komsomol]] as First Secretary; it was on his initiative that the BSSR's Komsomol school was opened, as one of the first in the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Platonov|first=Konstantin|title=Instructive Lessons|pages=386–387}}</ref> However, on the other hand he also strongly criticised the widespread practise of many Belarusians (up to 100,000 annually) leaving the BSSR to work on Komsomol construction projects; many of these workers would not return, resulting in what Masherov termed a "demographic crisis".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Platonov|first=Konstantin|title=Instructive Lessons|pages=398–401}}</ref>