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Orthodox Christianity class may be introduced at schools

The education ministry considers introducing an optional class at schools of general education to teach students the basics of Orthodox Christianity.

It has yet to be approved by the National Education Institute but some experts have already expressed concern about a religious subject being added to the school curriculum.

When reached by BelaPAN, Yury Hladkow, a departmental chief at the education ministry, stressed that if approved, the subject would be exclusively optional.

He indicated that the introduction of the controversial class had been initiated by the Russian Orthodox Church in Belarus, saying that other denominations had not approached the education authorities.

Some fear that the class considered by the education ministry could be used by Orthodox Christian priests for imposing their views on students and discriminate against representatives of other denominations.