Lukashenko: Family values should be taught primarily by parents, not in classroom

Deputy Director for Education of Mozyr Regional Lyceum asked the president whether he thinks it is necessary to develop a special course  in addition to electives to prepare children for family life. This course would tell them about family life, prepare them for marriage and teach responsible parenting.

The president was generally skeptical about this idea: “These are our values (you have listed them). They must be taught by a family, from a child’s birth until adolescence, perhaps, until death. There is no need for special programs or courses for this.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that all the things that constitute traditional family values were discussed in Soviet schools. However, this was done between classes, before or after them, as well as in the family.

“It was a way of life. It is not necessary to designate certain time and programs for this,” the head of state said.

Unfortunately, this is nearly non-existent in modern schools. Therefore, the president does not mind developing some course about family values and family life.

“Please, don’t hope that we will expand the school curricular for that. I believe children should have a rest on Saturday,” he remarked.

In any case, when making decisions, the president was guided by the formula he had previously voiced: “My formula reads: we can do everything. But the first question is: do we need it or not? The second question: how much will it cost?”