Alexievich's works to be included in… Russian literature school syllabus
Belarusian Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich’s works are not included in the school syllabus in Belarus. There cannot be found on extra reading lists either.
"She used to be in the syllabus. I remember asking children to read War's Unwomanly Face and The Boys in Zinc. But it was 5 year ago,” Belarusian language and literature teacher Yadviha said.
The Institute of Education is planning to include Svetlana Alexievich’s works in the next year’s syllabus. But they will be part of the Russian literature classes. There is the section called ‘Belarusian literature in Russian’. It means that The Boys in Zinc and The Chernobyl Prayer may appear in the 11th form syllabus next academic year.
“Alexievich used to be studied at school. She will be brought back to the school syllabus,” the Ministry of Education told Euroradio.
Svetlana Aleksievich’s works are studied at universities. Euroradio has found her works next to Mikalai Charhinets in the section of modern Belarusian literature.
"She is studied at the faculty of Russian, Belarusian and Slavonic philology. This is 100% sure, philologists must study such works,” the BSU department of philology explained. However, only 2 out of the 15 students Euroradio talked to a day after the Nobel Prize laureate had been announced could name at least one of Alexievich’s books.
Alexievich’s works are also studied in the Pedagogical University. “They are in the modern literature section,” the dean’s office reports.
Photo: dw.com
