MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – During a nationwide conference on teaching held on 27 August Education Minister Andrei Ivanets presented a reworked philosophy study guide and a new history textbook to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.
According to the minister, the philosophy study guide has been completely reworked after the head of state criticized it.
“And you have repeatedly stated that a history textbook should be an example first and foremost. We’ve tried to make the first example of this kind,” Andrei Ivanets added.
“It is a genuine gift! Thank you very much! I didn’t come here in vain,” the head of state accepted the gift.
BelTA reported earlier that during a meeting with rectors of Belarusian higher education institutions in February Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the quality of textbooks. He said back then that he had recently come across a university study guide on philosophy. The president said: “Listen, what a nightmare! What did they write? That’s horrible! Soviet textbooks gave clear, structured answers to all questions. And the textbook I saw is such rubbish. Not a single student will learn it.”
The president demanded that textbooks should be put in order, particularly school textbooks, by presenting the information they contain in a way the students can easily comprehend.
During a meeting timed to the 30th anniversary of the Constitution in March Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded those present about his instruction.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I have already talked a lot about philosophy as my favorite science, about its further development. Well now, Oleg [Romanov, head of the political party and the public association Belaya Rus, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor], you have to do a lot. We need good textbooks on philosophy. They should be as good as those we had during the Soviet period. Unfortunately, the textbooks we have now are not simply useless from my point of view. They are sometimes harmful. They push people away from philosophy. How can we do without it? I don’t have to explain it to you.”
Oleg Romanov said that a new textbook on philosophy had already been prepared taking into account previous remarks by the head of state and is now in the Education Ministry: “It already has the ministry’s seal of approval. It will soon be tested in higher education institutions of our country.”
Follow us on:
