Ministry of Education: warnings to students “contribute to the exercise of right to education”

Aliaksandr Saldatsenka, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement expelled from Minsk State Linguistic University for involvement in rallies of solidarity with political prisoners, has received replies from the Ministry of Education and Minsk Partyzanski District Prosecutor’s Office concerning a warning issued by the University rector Mrs. Natallia Baranava.

The official letter signed by deputy minister Aliaksandr Zhuk says that the warning was “an educational measure” and “contributed to the exercise of right to education”.

“The objectives and the key elements of educating students at higher educational institutions are civil and patriotic education, aimed at the formation of the students’ pro-active civil stand, patriotism, legal, political and information culture on the basis of the state ideology” says deputy minister Mr. Zhuk.

At the same time, Minsk prosecuting authorities disagreed to the Ministry’s arguments, saying that the applicant’s claims have been confirmed and ordering the University administration to correct the alleged violations.