"I see this as political overdoing. We have to forget the times when we had some plans given from above against our will. I think times have changed, families and children should be able to choose," the head of the government said in an interview to Laisvoji Banga radio on Wednesday morning.
In his words, the MPs who proposed mandatory religion classes are simply trying to thrust their personal religious beliefs upon others.
The political group of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania has registered changes to the Education Law to make "the subject of religion mandatory in schools providing elementary and primary education."
Currently, students under the age of 14 have the subject of moral education – religion or ethics – chosen by their parents, and they choose the subject themselves after turning 14. Should the EAPL-proposed amendments be adopted, only students over the age of 14 would be able to choose the subject.
According to the Lithuanian Constitution, "freedom of thought, conscience and religion shall not be restricted," while "state and municipal establishments of teaching and education shall be secular."
