Armenian schools and universities are, of course, partisan, Republican. The principals and rectors of the educational institutions joined the ruling party to solve their personal problems, and, why not, also partly the problems of their institutions, which gave them an opportunity not to be particularly scrupulous about legitimacy and get some privileges. Teachers, lecturers, and students also became Republican by instruction. Party ticket gave them career and educational opportunities. Those were, of course, negative phenomena, discrediting pedagogues and affecting the quality of education.
But now, when the power has changed, to make efforts to “de-republicize” the educational institutions, seems senseless. Principals and rectors will quickly orientate themselves and leave the former ruling party, as the party membership will not only not give them any benefit, but will even hurt. Teachers, lecturers and students will follow their example. To be honest, I do not believe that anyone wants or is able to hinder the process, saying, “Wait, do not hurry, we will be back”. Even if such a thing is said, I do not think any teacher believes in the possibility of such a fantastic scenario. And if anyone wants to remain a Republican Party member, it is his personal choice. It is equally unacceptable both to make someone join Republicans and make them leave them.
My concern is not that schools and universities will remain Republican. This is excluded. I am concerned that educational institutions may become members of “Civil Contract” party, young Republicans get replaced by young Civil Contract members, “Youth Foundation” gets to be led by Civil Contract member “Karen Avagyan”, and the academic career to depend on this party ticket. I hope that it will not happen, but any party activism, any pressure from the minister or the government, is constantly causing such doubts.
There is certainly corruption in educational institutions, but it cannot be compared with the corruption that exists in the tax, customs, investigative bodies and the police. Abuses in those state institutions have indeed reached such a scale that threaten national security and it is natural that National Security Service should deal with them. The cases of fundraising or buying a ring for a teacher or a principal should be a matter for the police to deal with. Besides, the main flaw of our schools and universities is not corruption. The main challenge is to move from the old Soviet system of education to the modern European system.
