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    Categories: 2020

A protest rally took place in front of Ministry of Education: Protesters demanded Arayik Harutyunyan`s resignation

Arminfo, Armenia
Aug 24 2020

ArmInfo.On August 24, in the afternoon, in front of the building of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, a protest rally was held. Protesters  demanded resignation of Minister Arayik Harutyunyan.

The protesters noted their dissatisfaction with the reforms in the  field of education, in particular, the planned reduction in the  number of hours of the "Armenian language" subject, and the  withdrawal from the school curriculum of "History of the Armenian  Church". In addition to this, the Lanzarote Convention was  criticized, the ratification law of which was approved by the  parliament and signed by the President in May this year. The  protesters assured that the protests will continue in the coming days  in the capital, and on August 28, in front of the Ministry building,  they will hold a larger protest. At the same time, they promised that  if the minister did not fulfill their requirements, he would end up  in the urn, which they specially brought with them to the protest  action. "Armen Ashotyan, being the Minister of Education, destroyed  the education system, and today they want to completely destroy it,"  the protesters said.

To note, during the protest action, several citizens were detained.

As it was reported earlier, the "Armenian language" subject will be  reduced in schools by redistributing them at the expense of other  subjects. As for the "History of the Armenian Church", its separate  sections will be included in the curriculum of the high school.  According to the Minister of Education, 49 of the 50 articles of the  Lanzarote Convention are aimed at combating pedophilia and protecting  children from this.  Only one article – the 6th – concerns the sector  of education, and it is its meaning that many, intentionally or  unknowingly, distort. Harutyunyan noted that all statements about the  new methodology and supposedly developed textbooks on sexuality  education for Armenian schools are false. According to the article,  each party to the Convention must take the necessary legislative or  other measures to ensure that children, during primary and secondary  education, are informed about the risks of sexual exploitation, abuse  and the necessary means of self-defense. The above information,  according to the Convention, must be provided in accordance with the  age of the children.



Alex Jidarian: