Alma Mater concerns: Students start campaign against reducing
post-graduate positions
Education | 29.04.10 | 16:26
Students protest against new governmental decision
By Karine Ionesyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A decision by the Government of Armenia to reduce the number of
openings for post-graduate study has drawn protest from a small
contingent of students who hope their numbers will grow.
On March 18, the Government ruled to decrease the number of
post-graduation positions from about 230, to 122.
The move is seen by opposing students as a way to force more young men
into the army.
Until now, any male of military-age (18-27), was deferred from service
if he was engaged in post-graduate study.
Six years ago, legislators wanted to do away with deferment entirely,
but were met with such backlash that no amendment to that effect was
passed.
`They decided to settle the problem another way – to make a decision
which will simple reduce the number of those [deferment] places,’ says
Daniel Ioannisyan, who is in his first year of Master Degree study at
Yerevan State University.
Today (April 29), Ioannisyan had organized a picket of the Government
building, however few attended – due, in part to rainy weather, but
more so he claims because Yerevan State students were pressured by the
faculty to not attend.
Aram Simonyan, Rector of YSU, told ArmeniaNow that no pressure was
applied, but that the policy of the university is to oppose
anti-establishment discontent.
The Student Council of the YSU does not support protesting students
either. Tsolak Hakobyan, Chairman of the Student Council, believes
that only a few dozen youngsters are interested in the struggle, and
they are simply trying to evade compulsory military service.
Ioannisyan says instead of organizing another picket, he will launch a
signature-collection drive on May 3.
A week ago only the students of the Faculty of Physics at Yerevan
State organized such a picket. The same day, Ministry of Science and
Education of Armenia Armen Ashotyan, received them, and as a result,
it was decided not to reduce the post-graduate studentship places at
the Faculty of Physics, keeping the number of the previous year, at
15.