Data gathering on pupils' religious affiliation in KBR outrages Facebook users

Social network users have criticized the administration of the Elbrus District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) for collecting information about the pupils who do not celebrate the New Year on religious grounds. Teachers intend not to leave their pupils "alone with fanatical parents," this was the justification of the initiative of the antiterrorist commission presented by an employee of the education department.

The information on compiling lists of the schoolchildren, who are not taking part in the New Year holidays, was posted on December 28 by the Facebook user, Alim Pshibiev, in the public group "Another Nalchik".

According to a photocopy of the document posted by the user, the heads of educational establishments were recommended "in response to the protocol order of the antiterrorist commission of the local administration" to provide a list of pupils, who are "not taking part in the New Year festivities for religious reasons."

Many commentators have expressed indignation at the authorities' decision. "It's horror that it's really possible!" the user Eliza Eliza wrote, in particular. "This is a personal matter for every parent and every child," Tamara Bittirova has agreed.

In her turn, Lyudmila Murachaeva, the deputy head of the republic's education department, has explained that the above initiative of the authorities is realized "for children's benefit."

"We have children who after the age of 12 stop attending lessons of arts and music; and we need these lists so that teachers could involve them in additional training and not to leave them alone with their fanatic parents," the "Kavkaz.Realii" quotes Ms Murachaeva saying today.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 30, 2019 at 12:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.