Belarusian Journalist’s Credo :: Charter'97 :: News

Any student, who participates in protest actions, is to be expelled from university. From today in Belarus new rules for students and pupils adopted. Now they are to choose between freedom of expression and studies. Education Minister of Belarus has signed an order “On measures preventing attempts of engaging schoolchildren and students in illegal activities of political character”.

This confidential letter was sent to rectors and deans by Education Minister. But unexpectedly it got into newspapers. As it turned out, the ministry is ready to fight any attempts of involvement students in political activities. Teachers and professors of universities were proposed to do everything possible to keep classrooms free from “anti-state rhetoric” and criticism, the document reads. To withstand oppositional influence, the professors were proposed to organize evenings of questions and answers, quiz games, round table discussions. The students could also become member of people`s guard. And hopeless oppositionists are to be punished and even expel from universities and schools.

Tatsyana Kavalyova, deputy minister of education of Belarus: “We see the struggle for minds of young people. They are manipulated because of their features like a desire to earn money and socialize. They do not understand why they are used”.

Before the document was issued, a reporter of independent newspaper Volha Klaskouskaya was expelled from the faculty of journalism for “low academic performance”. 13 fellow students of Volha found this decision unjustified and asked the dean to reverse it. However, later part of the students revoked their signatures. Others are trying to pass exams now.

Alyona Andreeva, a student of the third year of the Belarusian State University, faculty of journalism: “The situation is that those who had signed the letter, cannot pass exams. For instance, I had no problems with that for three years of studies. And now I have not passed two exams”.

In Zhodzina expelled students and pupils announced a hunger strike. They had one demand: “We want to study”. For 11 days six expelled students and 9 supporters have been drinking only water. The hunger strike was ended when some of the protesters started to loose consciousness.

Zmitser Dashkevich, the “Young Front” leader: “One of the demands has been fulfilled. Two girls returned to their gymnasium. One of them is going to receive golden medal”.

All these young people had been noticed at street actions of opposition, usually populated pickets or performances with inconsiderable number of participants, for example against job allocation to Chernobyl area, renaming of the central streets of the capital. Majority of people do not head for trouble and are not engaged in politics cautiously. They are quick learners.