Homel teachers forced to look for "spongers"

The collection of data on individuals leading "anti-social lifestyle", is an initiative of the Department of Education of the City Executive Committee.

Educational institutions received a special plate with written categories of unemployed citizens on it. According to Vasil Paliakou, the representative of Strategic Litigation Human Rights Center, the collection of personal information is a gross violation of the right of privacy, Radio Ratsyja reports.

-I already know the case when a homeroom teacher, the class where my friend's son is learning at, came in and asked: children, raise your hands if your mother or father does not work. It's unpleasant for pupils when they are asked in a public and should share personal information about parents", he said.

Iryna Vasilieuna, the former director of one of the Homel schools, emphasizes that the collection of personal data about pupils' parents do not fall within the competence of teachers.

A teacher should not collect additional, unrelated to his responsibilities, information. Today one cannot make or encourage children to give out the information about parents. This is a matter of each person whether he works today or not. All in all, the Constitution states that work is a right but not a duty for a penny, she said.

People officially working abroad, disabled people, and even mothers with children up to 3 years are enlisted as asocial elements.