Olanesti residents demand Russian school to remain open

A group of people from Olanesti village, Stefan Voda district, including parents and teachers, complain that local authorities want to close the Russian-language gymnasium. They want the school to be kept open and sent a petition to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for support, Info-Prim Neo reports. Lilia Ivancenco, a teacher in the village, told the press that the decision to close the school was adopted by the Olanesti local council on August 8, disregarding the fact that over 80 children want to continue to study there. After the school is closed, the children will have to choose between the Romanian-language school in the village and another Russian school that is 25 km far. “We’re worried for our children who will have to walk 25 km daily on the main road, where there are many cars and six intersections. We’ll go to court and annul the decision of the local council”, declared the teacher. The signers of the petition expect financial support from the Russian President, which would allow them to keep the school open. “Moldovan laws say that the parents decide in what language their children should study. Most of us, some ethnic Moldovans, chose Russian because with it our children will have a chance for a better life”, reads the letter to the Russian head of the state. “It’s you, esteemed Mister Vladimir Putin, who we look for help to in this difficult situation, hoping that with joint efforts we’ll be able to defend our institution”, write the parents and children. A call for support was sent to the Russian Embassy in Chisinau as well.