SMOLEVICHI DISTRICT, 3 April (BelTA) – School holidays are very likely to be extended for a week, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in Smolevichi District answering questions of reporters on 3 April, BelTA has learned.
“I am experiencing this situation, too, because I have a kid. I believe that the demands of parents and the healthcare system to extend the holidays are not right. However, I once said that we would not put pressure on parents. These are their children, their life. It is up to them to make decisions about it amidst this coronavirus psychosis. I am absolutely against pulling out children from a kindergarten or a school by extending the holidays. However, if I promised to accommodate parents' requests, let it be,” the head of state said.
In his words, it is necessary to study how many children go to school now because it does not make sense to give classes if many children are absent. “They want us to extend the holidays. Tomorrow I will hear out a report of the education minister. We have a reserve week: we compressed the curriculum so that we will probably not have to extend the academic year. It is not a big problem,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He went on saying that during the holidays the children lived their lives in a certain environment. “The situation has calmed down. If they stay home for another week, it is not a big deal. Tomorrow or a day after tomorrow I will take a decision. It is highly likely that we will extend the holidays for a week, solely because parents insist on it and because not all of them let their children attend school during this period. I understand what they feel. Even a healthy person without kids can get sick from the things that are going on,” the president said.
