The youth protest through a student strike, which has been joined by students of different universities, these days. www.aravot.am found out during a conversation with representatives of the field of education that the majority of them don’t encourage the strike;
on the contrary, they think that students act under the influence of certain forces. Artsrun Avagyan, the dean of the Faculty of Philology, Yerevan State University, stated during a conversation with us: “There is no student strike. If some 30, 40 or 100 children of the complainers gather and wander the streets, it doesn’t mean there is a student strike. I officially say that the attendance has even increased, than on regular days. If they want to show something or to express some political position, they can do it after classes. Firstly, the student should perform his duties, collect knowledge, learn, become a citizen, then engage in other activities. Both Yerevan State University and all the other universities are not under any political party’s influence and propaganda.” We asked why then the opposition claimed that students were “driven” to S. Sargsyan’s rallies. A. Avagyan responded: “Who took them to a rally? I don’t have such a fact that any student has been taken to a rally.” Samvel Khudoyan, the head of the Development and Applied Psychology Department, Pedagogical University After K. Abovyan, thinks that the student strike is in the so-called interests of students, since they think they will have fun, communicate and make new acquaintances. Then he went into detail: “Students seize every minor opportunity to play hooky. Certainly, there are provocateurs nowadays. They can organize after classes; in that case, no one will impede. Then they would really express a position. And now that position is related to their interests, i.e. to communicate, have fun, laugh. Certainly, not all universities have joined that. I cannot notice any particular tension or concern or talk in the Pedagogical University either. The classes are held as usual. There are provocateurs there for sure; a large part of students is under influence.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
