Education Ministry to propose conception on optional religion course

The Ministry of Education is developing a new conception for the optional teaching of religion in schools, announced Minister Leonid Bujor at a news conference on Tuesday. “Since we aspire to be an European state, our task is to implement and foster European values, and not to promote some alien project”, said Leonid Bujor, mentioning that religion isn't a mandatory course in any European country and that there is no such a practice of introducing religion in schools through a referendum. “Religion has been present in the education system since 2001, and I'm sure the Metropolitan of Moldova is very well aware of it. Since at least four or five articles (of the Constitution) forbid the introduction of religion as a mandatory course of study, the Ministry of Education believes that every citizen should have the freedom of choice in this matter”, stated Bujor. Justice Minister Alexandru Tanase told earlier a TV program the Government would adopt a decision on religion in school to put an end to all speculation on this subject. The idea of holding a referendum to introduce a course on Orthodox Fundamentals in the Moldovan public school system is championed by a group headed by Valeriu Pasat, former chief of the Moldovan intelligence service, and officially supported by the Metropolitan Church of Moldova. The group has been stopped recently in its endeavor by a court decision, suggesting that this subject cannot be put up for a referendum.