ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - Croatia's education and sports ministry has withdrawn a recommendation given to all county education offices in June instructing them to recommend to educational institutions to cooperate with the "Yoga in
Everyday Life" society, i.e. to have teachers take yoga classes.
ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - Croatia's education and sports ministry
has withdrawn a recommendation given to all county education
offices in June instructing them to recommend to educational
institutions to cooperate with the "Yoga in Everyday Life" society,
i.e. to have teachers take yoga classes. #L#
Deputy Minister Ivan Vavra told a news conference on Wednesday the
recommendation was being withdrawn because of public
interpretations.
Vavra said the part of the "Yoga in Everyday Life" programme giving
teachers the opportunity to join yoga seminars and exercises of
their own will was acceptable, while having teachers practice yoga
with pupils during classes or extracurricular activities was
unacceptable.
"There is no basis in existing documents and school programmes, or
in Ministry of Education and Sports plans, under which yoga would be
introduced in schools," read a statement Vavra distributed among
reporters.
Schools were given a recommendation like those given for other
projects by associations for extrainstitutional learning, and not
a conclusion, as has been interpreted, said Vavra.
On July 14, the Croatian Bishops' Conference Permanent Council
issued an appeal against the introduction of yoga programmes in
schools with the explanation that it constituted an attempt to
introduce in Croatian schools "the Hinduist religious practice
under the guise of exercise".
(hina) ha sb