Parents choose to close down Belarusian-language classes in Hlybokaye

The School No3 in the town of Hlybokaye, Vitsebsk region which was the only Belarusian language school in the region has changed the language status. A conference of students, parents and teachers decided on September 25 about the future fate of the school. Most of the votes were cast in favor of the amendments in the school statutes. The Russian-language classes were launched on September 1, almost one month before the conference.

According to Raman Tarasevich, the head of the district education department, the authorities tried to save the school as a totally Belarusian-language institution, but it was the parants of the first graders who pushed for the Russian language classes.

Under the Law on Education, parents have the right to pick which language -- Belarusian or Russian -- their children will choose for studies.Mr Tarasevich has assured that the level of education in the Russian-language classes would not be reduced, ERB correspondent Jadviha Staseuskaya reports. 

The second grade has also started studing in the Russian lanaguage. The parents said they felt the Russian language was more prestigious and practical.