Education Ministry declines competence in moral matters

The policies on morals are not within the competence of the Ministry of Education. It did not recommend the book “Sex described for children” as teaching aid or as component of the school libraries, the institution says in a communiqué, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The Ministry says that some of the statements concerning the request to withdraw the book from sale, made by Minister of Education Leonid Bujor, were taken out of context. The minister said that before taking decisions, it is necessary to analyze the content of the book and the opinions of experts, civil society and parents. The Ministry’s position on certain subjects will be made public by Valentin Crudu, the head of the General Division of Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education Division, in working meetings. The decision to withdraw the book from sale was announced by Prime Minister Vlad Filat after the December 14 meeting of the Government. The Premier explained that they received a number of complaints about the content of the book. In a news conference on December 15, members of the National NGO Council of Moldova said the Government misused power by taking such a decision as the book went on sale about six years ago. They said the decision represented unjustified interference by the central public authorities in the freedom of expression.