Lessons cancelled in Chechen schools because of upcoming elections

In Chechnya, on the eve of the upcoming December 4 elections of Russian State Duma deputies and local municipal governments, classes in general secondary schools will be cancelled from November 29 to December 5. Parents believe that such holidays are negatively affecting the learning process.

"Classes are suspended because of the upcoming December 4 elections. Most of the polling stations in our republic (the total number of them is 456, – note of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent), as before, are housed in school buildings. Therefore, like during previous elections, in the last week before voting, pupils are released from classes," said the official of the Ministry of Education and Sciences of Chechnya.

Parents are negative towards the cancellation of classes. "Even without it, our schools have quite a low level of teaching; and talking that almost a one week break will not affect the learning process, is simply not serious," said Madina Sh., a woman from Grozny. "In March, when we'll have the presidential election, schools will be closed for a week again; as a result, the school year will be a fortnight shorter."

Parents are not happy that polling stations are located in school buildings. "If militants suddenly decide to somehow manifest themselves on the voting day, then, of course, their main targets will be polling stations; and school buildings can be damaged," - said Satsita M., another local woman.