Government transformed history into propaganda – historians

The Associations of Historians of Moldova (AIM) reject the integrated history course, considering it “soviet type”, meant to substitute the educational system based on democratic, national and universal values. In a declaration on the soviet policy in the historic education promoted by the communist government, which was read at a press conference on Thursday, September 21, those over 2000 members of AIM say that the integrated history books, elaborated at the order of the government, show an anti-Romanian doctrine which is antiscientific, antidemocratic and anti-European. More, the text books, especially those for the 9th grade, have serious deficiencies generated by the official ideology of the state, which is imposed by the leading party and which comes from the soviet period. In this specific case the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova is completely forgotten. Historians say that the communist party tries to transform through this course the history lessons into a manipulation instrument and is a propagandistic indoctrination of the young generation. The association of historians demands cancellation, until October 1, of the disposal regarding the introduction of the integrated history course and maintaining the teaching system of two disciplines – History of Romanians and Universal History. Historians ask to render void on the integrated history text books until the same date and halting ideological debauchery in the education system, as well as solving the real problems the education of all level confronts with in Moldova and the first comes the issue of offering higher wages to the teaching staff. The head of AIM, Anatol Petrencu, declared that the members of the Association did not participate in the elaboration of these textbooks and did not discuss the manuscripts. More, until September 1, no one knew the name of textbooks’ authors, Anatol Petrencu said. According to professor Gheorghe Paladi, in many schools and lyceums, teachers and students refuse to study from the new text books, for the publishing of which huge money were spent. Despite the fact that the Ministry of Education and Youth says that this course can be provided with other text books, the further tests and examinations will impose students to study this course, Paladi declares. The former speaker of the Parliament, member of the Romanian Academy, professor Alexandru Mosanu, declared that through this course communists continue the policy of destroying the achievements of the people from 90s and educating them according to a procommunist, pro-imperial, antidemocratic and anti-European spirit of the new generation. “It is not about history, but about attempting to destroy the political constitutional order, which was created on the basis of the values declared on August 27, 1991”, the cited source states. AIM called on all teachers, parents, children, civil society, political parties which support democracy in Moldova to actively involve in counteracting antinational and antidemocratic actions of the communist government in education, and to reject without fear the integrated history text books. AIM plans to organize on September 30 the General Assembly of Historians soliciting the City Hall to authorize on the same date a protest action.