Melkonian Educational Institute at Crossroads
Azad-Hye, United Arab Emirates
March 27 2005
On Sunday 20th March 2004 Azad-Hye visited the Melkonian Educational
Institute in Nicsoa (Cyprus), which is under the threat of closure
at the end of this academic year (see photo gallery).
About 120 students (mainly from Cyprus, Armenia, Iran and other
countries) are attending the lessons, almost certain that they will
need to find other places to continue their studies next year. Some
are lucky enough to be at the graduation year, but others need
to do arrangements for smooth transition to other schools, without
excluding the prospect of discontinuing their studies due to financial
difficulties.
The feeling of lose is predominant among the students. No new students
were admitted in at the beginning of the current school year. The
current students and thousand of graduates will soon be deprived
of their beloved school. It is not certain whether their collective
effort will change the course of events.
We met several citizens of Cyprus, who all expressed their concern
about the fate of the school, marking it as a sad day for all
Cypriots. Actually it is incomprehensive why AGBU insists to close
a school that can grant its graduates high school certificates,
recognized on the European Union level, now that Cyprus has joined
the Union.
The premises of the Institute, especially the main two buildings are
part of Nicosia’s architectural heritage. Together with the surrounding
parks they are chief landmarks in the capital city.
Two of Melkonian’s students approached and provided us with a written
text about the closure of their school. They signed the text with the
nicknames Ardziv and Paze. Here are the main parts of what they wrote
(translated from Armenian to English):
“The Fall of 79 years old school: For many years the Melkonian
Educational Institute has played an irreplaceable role in the
Armenian Diaspora cultural life. As a unique educational center,
it has provided numerous pupils with the necessary means for their
educational progress and development.
Only indifferent people and those who are totally overwhelmed with
financial considerations could take the decision for its closure.
Their excuses about the big financial loses of the Institute are
baseless, as, from its first day this school was a product of
benevolence and kindness, not a mean for business profit.
The suggestion of opening Melkonian Institute in Armenia is completely
ridiculous, because there are enough schools in Armenia to cover the
needs for national education there.
In the past, foreign invaders had ordered the closure of our schools,
but what we see today the Armenian hands are doing it, as if it
is not enough the closure of the other Diaspora schools such as
Murad-Raphaelian, etc.
In our opinion the closure of the school will have tragic consequences
on the Diaspora cultural life. It will endanger the struggle for
keeping our identity in the Middle East and Europe. This is why we all
consider the day that the decision for the closure of the school was
taken (16th March) as a black day in our history. We will continue
to protest and oppose to those who prefer to see the doors of the
Melkonian Institute closed forever.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress