Children's free time should be as full as possible - Prosecutor's Office
Children's free time should be maximally filled with useful activities. This opinion was expressed by Anton Volkov, Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the region for supervision of the enforcement of legislation on minors and youth.
"Engagement is one of the main factors in preventing juvenile delinquency. Therefore, children's free time should be maximally filled with useful activities," Anton Volkov is convinced. In his opinion, the introduction of free travel on urban public transport for children who travel to institutions of additional education will contribute to the useful engagement of minors.
"Among other things, this is real help and support for families raising children," he added. "We are talking about sports training, attending handicraft and technical creativity clubs, participating in events held in Palaces of Creativity, sports schools, etc. In additional classes, children gain new knowledge and develop their talents. And if we take a large family as an example, parents who strive to occupy children with useful activities need to spend a significant amount on travel. This problem is relevant for single-parent and low-income families," noted Anton Volkov.
Taking into account all these circumstances, the regional prosecutor's office proposed that the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee grant children the right to travel on urban public transport for free. The initiative was understood. Local authorities took measures for additional social support for students. Now, many educational institutions have special commissions for free travel, where parents can apply if there are grounds (large families, low-income, single-parent families, etc.). In some regions, travel passes are purchased specifically for children, while others have introduced free travel for all schoolchildren.
As reported, a corresponding decision was also made at the regional level. At the session of the Regional Council of Deputies, it was decided that students of the region from September 1, 2018, will be granted the right to free travel on urban public transport not only to school but also to additional
classes. The right to free travel to institutions of additional education, art, music schools, sports clubs and various hobby groups is granted to students of general secondary and special education institutions located in the Vitebsk region. It has been decided that children will be able to travel for free on city buses (except for express routes) and city electric transport from September 1 to June 30. The right is exercised by students based on a certificate. Additional measures for social support of students have been adopted based on the Law "On Local Government and Self-Government in the Republic of Belarus" and the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of February 16, 2011 No. 202 "On Certain Issues of Student Travel".