The package of changes in the laws “About language” and “About the general education” is included in the summons of the forthcoming four-day sessions

The constant commission of the National Assembly concerning the Science, education, culture, youth and sports at problems session on June 4 as a result of the discussions which have lasted 4 hours, has drawn the positive conclusion about the entering of the sensational initiative of the Government about changes and additions in laws “About language” and “About the general education” in the summons of the four-day sessions beginning on June 7. 4 members of the commission – republicans voted for it- on one member from parties “Armenian Revolutionary Federation”, “Heritaqe” and “Prosperous Armenia” voted against it. According to another decision of the commission, after the first reading of a package, during the period before the second reading the expanded hearings with participation of interested parties will be organized.
The Minister of Education and culture Armen Ashotyan has submitted the commission the added package of the projects, allowing the organization of foreign language education. He declared, that for two months of public discussions was not only “witch-hunt” and inquisition, but also a healthy anxiety, the critic, constructive offers, and “having caught in the information sea these pearls of intellectual work”, the government decided to establish certain legislative guarantees and restrictions.
Thus, in the bill it is fixed, that the educational institutions giving foreign language education, can operate exclusively under the decision of the government of the RA and to carry out secondary education programs only the second (5-9 classes) and the third (10-12 classes) degrees. Thus, for citizens of the RA studying of the Armenian language and subjects in Armenian is obligatory – according to the state general educational standards.
Exclusively not state educational institutions and also the institutions, created on the basis of interstate, interdepartmental agreements, cannot carry out educational programs on a foreign language. It is offered to limit quantity of such educational institutions. In the RA there are 15 such institutions, from which 8 – in Yerevan, and “a maximum quantity of the same educational institutions which are carrying out educational programs on a foreign language is 5”.
Answering the opponents the minister has declared: “It is not a prorussian and not antirussian, not proanglo-saxon and not antianglo-saxon program.” As he said, the initiative is directed on the maintenance of a versatility of education, and especially in Armenia there is such demand: at the international schools provided for foreigners local Armenians study also, however they have no license and consequently graduates do not receive certificates on the termination of the state sample. There are lots of Armenians getting education in educational institutions known abroad. In particular in Tailand, at present 45pupils from Armenia get education.
Both members of the commission and the heads of fractions participated in the discussion. Many of them were disturbed by the poor quality of education. The head of the fraction “Armenian Revolutionary Federation” Vahan Hovhannisyan noticed, that “it has fallen into decay”, and general education system is “just shed”. In reply to a question of the deputy, whether offered changes solve the problem of the increase of the language, A.Ashotyan declared, that introduction of the international educational programs will create a competition and will promote educational level increase.
The position of the fraction “Prosperous Armenia” was unequivocal: foreign language education can be carried out only and exclusively at the high schools – at 10-12 classes. Also it has been noticed, that other variants are not comprehensible to this party, and that their voting will be the acceptance. Categorically against the foreign language education at the second stage of secondary education (5-9 classes) has expressed also “Heritaqe”. However for this party fastening of exceptions in a law substantive provision was the weak spot –
“Education and training language in the RA educational institutions and other organizations carrying out educational programs is literary Armenian”. The member of the commission, the head of fraction Heghine Bisharyan was not present on voting, however on the previous discussion, she as a teacher, stated her position: at the high school for 3 years it is impossible to train on a foreign language, therefore it is necessary to begin with middle classes.
The former deputy of the Supreme body invited to the session, the author of the law accepted in 1993 “About language” Valery Mirzoyan was categorically against the government initiative. According to him if the law in force needs to be changed, it must be done “only as toughening”, and government offers is “an easing way”.
Let’s notice also, that since the morning representatives of the initiative “We are against the opening of foreign language schools” have organized a protest action before the building of the NA from Demirchyan’s street. They held posters with inscriptions “We demand Armen Ashotyana’s resignation” and “Do not pay off for debts with Language”.