Ivan Shyla: none of my teacher voted for my expulsion

Expelled from a Salihorsk school Young Front member is looking for a job and hopes he will study in the European Humanities University without a school certificate.

Eight boys and girls organised an action of solidarity with Ivan Shyla on 11 June. The young people came to the Ministry of Education with a banner “School for everyone.” They stood there about 15 minutes and handed an appeal in support of the boy. Ivan Shyla answered the questions of “Nasha Niva” newspaper before the action.

– Ivan, did the story of your expulsion show some developments after you hadn’t been allowed to have the last exam?

– We are going to make a complaint to court in the nearest time. Many teachers asked me not to do it. They are just people, they have some mistakes in documents. In case an inspection visits the school, they would have additional problems. A formal reason for expulsion is missed classes. I have no other way to defend my rights. So, sometimes I attended trials over my friends instead of classes...

– Was the expulsion a surprise for you?

– I didn’t expect it to happen before the last exam. People are usually expelled an examination session. The teachers council permitted me to have the exams. Two extra councils were called. Usually only three councils a year are held, and this time they had two ones for two days. The night before I was detained by militia, they found stickers “City is our” on me. A report of detention was sent to school. The teachers faced a dilemma: to expel or not to expel me. The teachers tried to defend me, however, they failed. When headmaster and her assistant were dismissed, they followed the line of the least resistance.

– Why is so much attention drawn to you?

– It must scare the schoolchildren. In order they see what the end can be. In order we can’t study in Poland on Kalinouski educational programme, because they do not give a school certificate. My story will be told in schools of Salihorsk and other cities: this is what may happen with the youth if it is interested in the opposition.

– What do you think about the position of the teachers?

– There are different teachers. Some remained the real people to the end, the others are victims of the situation. If a person has to choose between a full fridge and me, he or she will choose the former, of course, because he or she needs to feed children. Moreover, school staff will be reduced due to the education reform. Officials form the city executive committee attended the teachers council, and teachers had to vote in their presence. Those who taught me, didn’t vote against! I’m thankful to them. They didn’t vote against, they demanded I was allowed to be present at the council, they asked who had given an order.

– Do you feel solidarity?

– Of course: my classmates, their parents, even passers-by shake my hand. People phone, write letters, my wall in vkontakte.ru drawn with the words of solidarity. It’s pleasant.

– Did you attend the farewell party?

– Yes, I did. Though my parents didn’t. My classmates received certificates and diplomas. I thought I would be reminded as a good soccer player, but I wasn’t. My name wasn’t mentioned during the official ceremony. Later my classmates said me words of support and thanks.

– What are you going to do now? What about a university?

– I planned and am planning now to appeal for low-residency BA programme in political science in the European Humanities University. I hope I will succeed. I’m going to work in my spare time – I wanted to lay paving slabs, but they didn’t hire me. I will look for. I will most likely stay in Salihorsk.