The educator’s post sparked a lively discussion on social media.
Volodymyr Ogura / © Facebook of Volodymyr Ogura
Volodymyr Ogura, former head of the education department in Lviv and current director of the private school “Erudyt,” ignited a significant controversy with a public statement about refusing employment to candidates based on their beliefs, appearance, religious attire, and sexual orientation.
This was reported in the educator’s post on the social network Facebook.
Feminists, Lesbians, Women in Hijabs, and People with Tattoos
In his post, Ogura shared a series of anecdotes from interviews with job applicants at the school. He stated that he rejected candidates who, in his words, exhibited feminist views, had piercings, dyed hair, tattoos, or belonged to the LGBTQ+ community.
The school director specifically mentioned a woman wearing Muslim attire and a hijab, asserting that he would not permit her to teach in such an outfit due to the institution’s internal regulations.
At the end of the post, he outlined his personal criteria for employment.
“Want to work at my school? No tattoos, colored hair, metal piercings, religious symbols, sexual affiliation, or political preferences. Those are the rules. Who set them? I did!” declared Volodymyr Ogura.
The publication quickly spread across the network, generating hundreds of comments and shares.
Gender Expert Calls for License Review
One of the most prominent reactions came from Tamara Zlobina, head of the NGO “Expert Resource ‘Gender in Details’.”
On her Facebook page, she stated that the school director “had gathered all possible stereotypes, hate speech, and arrogance,” and questioned the safety of the environment for children.
“The employment rules and curriculum are determined not by his excellency, but by the law. This needs to be addressed within the legal framework. At the very least, the license for this school should be reviewed,” wrote Zlobina.
Ogura: I Don’t Discriminate, I Oppose Propaganda
In a comment to the publication ZAXID.NET, Volodymyr Ogura dismissed accusations of discrimination, explaining that he was merely sharing his personal experiences and views.
According to him, the issue is not with people’s preferences or worldviews, but with their public display of them at school.
“Leftist ideas, which have greatly influenced the world, are not just promoted but sometimes imposed. I don’t like this because it forces a distortion of reality. Any propaganda is harmful,” stated the director.
He also emphasized that the institution enforces the same rules for both students and educators: dress code, prohibition of accessories, and the display of religious or political preferences.
Regional Administration Suspects Scandal Could Be School Advertisement
Oleg Paska, head of the Department of Education and Science of the Lviv Regional State Administration, described the situation as ambiguous.
In his opinion, the sensational post might serve as a form of covert advertising for the private educational institution and a way to demonstrate the school’s value system to parents.
“The director expressed his school’s guiding values in this manner. However, many parents might find such an approach appealing,” noted the official.
At the same time, he reminded that all educational institutions operate based on licenses, and the State Service for Quality of Education has the authority to conduct inspections and, if violations are found, initiate proceedings for their review.
Will the Scandal Have Legal Consequences?
According to Oleg Paska, the public statements of the director might also draw a reaction from the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.
Currently, the discussion surrounding Volodymyr Ogura’s statements continues on social media, where users are debating the boundaries of private school autonomy, an employer’s right to set internal rules, and the acceptability of such statements in the public sphere.
Recall that during “KyivPride,” in support of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, opponents of the march trampled on the rainbow flag.
Subsequently, a student who desecrated the LGBTQ+ community’s flag publicly apologized for her actions. The girl explained her behavior by a differing “vision of the institution of family.”
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