Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Wednesday


Diaspora Minister calls for change of attitude of preservation of
Armenian language & culture abroad



YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Diaspora of Armenia
Hranush Hakobyan says the preservation of Armenian identity is the
greatest issue of the Diaspora.

The minister says that already the 4th, 5th generations are born in
the Diaspora who live in non-native environment, in foreign
conditions, and interact with other cultures and approaches.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS, the minister emphasized that in these
conditions the Armenian language willingly or unwillingly is
“shrinking”, and is becoming more of a family language, with its space
of usage getting smaller.

“This is why we must form love and awe for the Armenian language
within the upcoming generation and the youth of the Diaspora, but the
schools of our Diaspora are gradually getting lower in quality, since
the Armenian school is not competitive compared to the English, French
or German schools. Naturally, parents prefer that their children
receive more quality education in other schools”, the minister said.

Hakobyan said the structures of the Diaspora, pan-Armenian
organizations, as well as the Church have the task to develop and
enhance the Armenian schools in the Diaspora.

“And Armenia must train teachers, provide textbooks, which we do very
consistently. This year alone we have sent 80 thousand books to more
than 300 schools, structures and organizations of the Diaspora. I am
proud that the Armenian structures of Valencia have joined forces and
are opening an Armenian school. How can I not be proud or not bow
before the leadership of the Armenian educational-cultural union who
are caring for our pan-national school of Marseille?”

Hakobyan said there are more than 1000 Armenian schools in the
Diaspora, 650 of which are Sunday schools.

“We must change the approach”, the minister says, arguing that it is
wrong for the children to go to school on weekdays and see that all
their friends have weekends instead.

The minister also welcomed the Armath initiative, which created
engineering robotics, which attracts children to the labs, where
everything is in Armenian language.

Hakobyan also argues that the creation of an e-school will be a very
important initiative.