Belarusian Lyceum Moves to Vilnius :: Charter'97 :: News

106 students of the National Humanities Lyceum of Jakub Kolas, which was liquidated by the authorities, from December 22 to January 3 will study in Vilnius Lyceum, as Uladzimer Kolas, headmaster of the Lyceum, informed the Charter’97.

According to Uladzimer Kolas, Vilnius Lyceum is a prestigious institution founded in 1990. It is an analogue of the Belarusian Lyceum in Minsk. However they work in very different conditions. In Vilnius it is a respected institution where Lithuanian traditions are cherished, and education is on a very high level, while in Minsk the authorities regard such institutions as a menace and try to liquidate, as it had happened this year with the Belarusian Lyceum.
Belarusian children will have the opportunity to study in Vilnius thanks to the direction of Vilnius Lyceum and Belarusian Diaspora in Minsk. Students of the Vilnius Lyceum are to be on holidays in this period.

It is a real Christmas present for Belarusian students, who haven’t been studying in a normal way for several months, as after the Lyceum’s liquidation its building was closed ‘for renovation’. 18 professors came to Lithuania together with the children. During their stay in Vilnius it will be possible for students to have laboratory works in chemistry and physics, to study in computer classes, as Vilnius lyceum is equipped remarkably.
Today the students will have a session of their Council and discuss internal problems. During their stay Belarusian students will carry out a number of collective events with their Lithuanian friends. For instance, they will show the performance “Pawlinka” on the play by Janka Kupala.

The Lyceum pupils were invited to Christmas carnival. Belarusian diaspora has also prepared an entertainment program for them, including excursions around Vilnius.

The attitude towards Belarusian Lyceum is certainly a disgrace to Belarusian authorities. But nevertheless there is a human solidarity, experienced by the Belarusian young people studying in Vilnius.
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