Venezuela: Move to stop socialist indoctrination in schools

According to a report by El Universal on 10 March 2017, the government"s Ministry of Education is forcing school pupils to participate in activities idolizing former president Hugo Chavez (who died in December 2012). A member of the National Assembly for Tachira State is seeking court action against this to protect children"s rights. Rossana Ramirez working for World Watch Research, explains: "The socialist hero, Hugo Chavez, is frequently the focus for the indoctrination of children in schools. Not only does this go against the Venezuelan Constitution, which states that education must be neutral and disconnected from politics, but it is also - as mentioned by Panam Post on 8 March 2017 - an affront to freedom of thought, conscience and religion established in Decree No 313 of Venezuela"s "˜Ley Organica de Education" and Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We must also not forget that such socialist ideals violate fundamental freedoms, especially relating to Christians and family values."