Levon Barseghyan, head of the journalists’ club Asparez, stated during an event that took place in Golden Tulip Hotel today that the educational system in our country continued to be used by the pro-government candidates and parties as an important tool. In his words, schools and university collectives, school and university students are taken to candidates’ meetings at the superiors’ behest. According to Levon Barseghyan’s data, 70% of principals of state schools and colleges of big cities of the Republic of Armenia are members of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). Commenting on Barseghyan’s statement at the request of www.aravot.am, Armen Ashotyan, the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, said, “I think NGOs and individuals engaged in advocating human rights should have exact perception of others’ political rights and freedoms, before making assessments. The Armenian legislation doesn’t forbid school principals, pedagogues, university rectors, professors and students to be members of a party. The
Armenian legislation, however, bans party activities during working hours and respective propaganda during the educational process.”
In Armen Ashotyan’s definition, in this century of advanced technology it is strange that accusations of coercion and propaganda in educational institutions are not confirmed by video and audio recordings.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
