Belarusian Humanities Lyceum
Belarusian Humanities Lyceum is a private secondary school, formerly located at 21 Kirau Street in Minsk, Belarus.
History
It was founded on January 15, 1991, as the Yakub Kolas National State Humanities Lyceum, by leading Belarusian intellectuals such as the present Belarusian Language Society Chairman Aleh Trusau, the former BPF leader and linguist Vincuk Viacorka, the famous Belarusian historian Prof. Mikhas Tkachou, the historian of arts Viachaslau Rakitsky, the teacher and film director Uladzimir Kolas, who until now serves as the school's principal. Originally set up as a Sunday school under state control, one of its aims has been to preserve and promote native Belarusian culture, language and humanities.
Closure
On June 25, 2003, the lyceum was shut down by Belarusian authorities, by decree of president Alexander Lukashenko. In the months that followed, student, parents and teachers fought to keep the school open, both diplomatically and through protest, but to no avail. The lyceum went underground shortly thereafter, becoming a private institution with its present name.
Current situation
As of September 2012, about 60 teenagers (age 13 to 17) are students of the Lyceum visiting lessons unofficially delivered by 20 teachers in Minsk. Some of its pupils are registered as students of The International School of Gdansk, Poland.
References in popular culture
The lyceum was featured in the 2006 documentary A Lesson of Belarusian. The documentary's central character, Franak Viacorka, is a past pupil of the lyceum and the son of its co-founder, Vincuk Viacorka. Uladzimir Kolas, the school principal, is also featured in the documentary.
References
- School of 'Partisans' Goes Underground in Belarus, Peter Finn. 17 October 2004, Washington Post
- The slow, torturous turning of the screw, Faisal al Yafai. 19 August 2005, Times Higher Education