“Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets called for an immediate investigation after the investigation into the underground school of the UOC (MP) in Kyiv, where children are taught according to Soviet textbooks”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The ombudsman stated that he had sent inquiries to the Ministry of Education, Security, and State Security Service in order to verify all the circumstances and ensure an appropriate response.
“It is unacceptable that this is happening in the capital of the state, where aggression has been going on for 12 years, where we clearly understand the methods and insidious plans of the enemy. At the same time, the protection of children is an absolute priority of our state. It is particularly disturbing that the children were actually outside of state control. They were enrolled in Khotyaniv Lyceum “Rancho School” LLC, where students’ documents were issued only formally. This deprives children of guarantees of the quality of education, protection and due attention from the state,” he wrote in a telegram.
Lubinets emphasizes that children cannot be considered as carriers or objects of imposition of views, beliefs or decisions of adults, and should not be involved in processes for which they cannot bear responsibility.
“No form of education can justify interfering with children’s consciousness and replacing education with propaganda. This case must be thoroughly investigated and the relevant authorities must take action to stop it now and prevent it in the future,” he added.
The fact that an underground school of the UOC (MP) operates in Kyiv, where they teach according to Soviet textbooks, show Russian films and teach Russian songs, was reported in the investigation of the Slidstvo.Info project, which was made public the day before.
Journalists point out that the school works at the monastery of the UOC (MP) “Holosiivska hermitage”. The director calls the institution a “family club”, however, it works according to the schedule like a regular school.
According to the investigation, schoolchildren’s documents are kept in licensed Ukrainian schools for formality, although the children do not study there. In total, more than 60 children from the 1st to the 9th grade study at this school.
After that, the Ministry of Education and the Security Service of Ukraine informed about the inspection.
Read also: A step towards the ban: the UOC (MP) is recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. What’s next?
In May of last year, Ukraine began checking the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (together with the Moscow Patriarchate) for ties with Russia. Then the nine-month term, which was set aside by the law for the church to prove the absence of ties with Russia, expired.
Currently, the court is considering the case on the termination of the activities of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
In 2023, a religious examination of the statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) showed the presence of a church-canonical connection with the Russian Orthodox Church, the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience reported. The service says that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues to be subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) called this religious examination “illegal and conducted in violation of the law and beyond the scope of its research.”