Education minister rejects Milinkevich`s proposal :: Charter'97 :: News

There is no need so far to establish "European information centers on human rights and democracy" at Belarusian schools of higher learning, Education Minister Alyaksandr Radzkow told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

The official was commenting on recent remarks by opposition politician Alyaksandr Milinkevich who suggested opening such centers at Belarusian universities.

"Belarusian youths should have the opportunity to get first-hand knowledge about Europe and Europeans, human rights and democracy," the former presidential candidate said in Strasbourg earlier this week.

Named "Democracy, education and Europe in Belarus," the proposed project would envisage the establishment of such centers at all schools of higher learning in Belarus. Their operation would be coordinated by representatives of the Council of Europe or the European Union, according to Mr. Milinkevich.

"We have a special course - even at school we study this subject in the framework of the "Man. Society. State" course," Mr. Radzkow said. "We believe that this is enough at the current stage."

The education minister said that the government could revisit the matter "if such a need arises."

Mr. Radzkow warned against "artificial" changes in the educational system, emphasizing the importance of "national educational traditions, the country`s demand for certain professionals."

"We follow the changes that take place in the sphere of European education and see how difficult they are to introduce," Mr. Radzkow said.