Changing the education system in order to raise a generation of independent thinkers is far too little. I believe that we also need to change the state system and public life. If we are unable to tolerate an independent thinker in state positions- people who do not use the standard approach- then it will be difficult to imagine that this will be encouraged in public education and universities. It is possible to blame Ashot Bleyan for a lot of things, but I don’t think that anyone can say that he has a standard mentality. Whether it was during communist times or independent Armenia, he was able to carry out his non-standard ideas while overcoming some resistance. And suddenly, it is during the administration of the authorities for whom he should have seemingly been more desirable where he is facing serious problems. It is possible to have lengthy discussions about where Smbat Gogyan, Gayane Abrahamyan, and Arsen Julfalakyan were right or wrong. But one thing is clear: they are bright individuals and people who will not simply repeat what those above them say. Is that a good or bad thing? Or are independence and principles only encouraged in education?
Read the entire editorial in Armenian: https://www.aravot.am/2020/09/26/1137283/
Aram Abrahamyan
