BAGRAT ESAYAN CANNOT ENSURE GUARANTEES

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09 July, 2008

More images Pupils, parents and teaching staff of Yerevan’s School #
9 for children with hearing disabilities and children with weak hearing
staged a protest action near the RoA Ministry of Education and Science
(MES) on July 9.

"We came here to protect our children’s rights and present their
interests. We don’t want to take them to other schools," they said.

The MES wants to unite the school with Special School # 15 situated
in Nork district. The teaching methods greatly differ in the schools
under question. The parents fear that their children will accumulate no
knowledge as a result. Moreover, they will forget everything learned
during those years. The protesters also say that only fifty pupils
attend School # 15, while the pupils of the other school exceed 125,
therefore the MES had better unite School # 15 with School # 9.

The protesters were received by Deputy Minister of the Education and
Science Bagrat Esayan. The latter said only the administrations of
the two schools will unite while studies will be held in different
buildings, i.e. the schools will work separately within the same
education complex.

"A medical-psychological committee will visit the schools this week
to get acquainted with the children’s needs. Then we shall decide to
which school the child should go," he said.

The teaching staff wondered whether "the decision will not have a
short life and be soon forgotten."

Esayan said in reply: "I can ensure guarantees only for my family
members. I was appointed by the Prime Minister and may be dismissed
any moment."