/ 10 September 2004

Serbia returns Darwin to the curriculum

The Serbian Education Ministry bowed to a public outcry and reinstated Charles Darwin’s theory of human evolution to the school programme, local media reported on Friday.

Earlier this week, Education Minister Ljiljana Colic, who maintains she prays every night to a Serbian saint for enlightenment in her work, said that she scrapped Darwin’s theory from the eighth-grade curriculum.

But after a Thursday evening session of the government, Deputy Education Minister, Milan Brdar, announced: ”I came here to confirm that Charles Darwin is still alive.”

Colic’s decision to scrap Darwin was welcomed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which has become increasingly vocal in stating its opinion over strictly secular matters — from festivities falling in the time of a fast, to the question of the national flag and anthem. – Sapa-DPA