The chairman of the Public Council V. Manoukyan’s open letter to the PC

Dear friends
In the decision, made at the conference of the Public Council, taken place this year on June 8, it was recorded, that the PC, besides dealing with many problems of Armenia, pays a great attention to the educational system as the regulating question of the sphere having a strategic importance for our state and our nation.

Our people has always stressed the importance of the issue of National Education, especially in the period when we lost our independence and it was expected that the independence would lead to an independent of the national educational system, which also would provide such a level which would allow to compare us with other peoples and civilizations equally.

It is natural that the Karabakh movement, becoming a movement of freedom and independence, took that idea on its flag, which was expressed in the 10th point of the Declaration of Independence and became one of the main poles of our Constitution.

“The Republic of Armenia provides the Armenian language as the state language, its use in all the spheres of life of the RA, it creates the own system of education, science and culture.”

It must be confessed that we could not sufficiently solve that problem during the past years.

Nevertheless, hundreds of children, graduating from our schools, continue their education in the universities of foreign countries, receiving a high quality by international standards.

The pain is that some of them cannot find a job in Armenia and have to leave for abroad, searching job.

At the same time we have both traditional Diaspora, and new Diaspora, where tens of thousands of children, receiving different education degrees in foreign countries and wishing to return motherland, not finding appropriate jobs, have to refuse their intention. It is a separate and an important issue which requires a serious discussion.

A number of issues related to the education were raised at the conference of the Small Council, it was decided to create working groups to discuss different directions. By the way, highly qualified professionals are also involved in the groups, who are not involved in the PC or in the commissions.

The agreement with the President of the RA was reached concerning the fact that the recommendations, formulated in the discussions, will be discussed with the President and the government.

Now I appeal with this letter to all members involved in the PC committees and the 960 non-governmental organizations, to discuss and submit to the PC their proposals on issues related to the education.

I am presenting the issues and thoughts raised in the small board.

1. Education goals:

– National, state and patriotic education causing a sense of national pride in young people, patriotism based on the development of national thinking and value system, the formation of national character, knowledge of history,

– nurturing the citizens with suitable knowledge and skills for the motherland,

– having knowledge mastered with the modern technologies of the modern world, humanistic world-class education,

2. The operating laws, instead of cooperation, create a conflict of interests between the two important state agencies, Army and the educational system, which is hurting both of them.

The privileges related to postponement, provided by the educational system: Master’s degree, doctorate, free course, adds the corruption to avoid the army, significantly damaging the educational system. It turns out that every year losing a significant resource in conscription, we lose young scientists as well, as an extension of providing places are strictly limited, and often instead of talented boys or girls, through protectionism people just wanted to avoid military service “fit in”, who absolutely do not want to connect their future with the science.

The science loses, the army loses, the corruption flourishes, deepening social injustice.

The mandatory army service of all the 18-year-old boys (except for health impaired) is offered. It is recommended to give certain privileges to young people: or 2 years replace with 1.5 years, which expediency is authorized to determine only by the Ministry of Defense, or the state makes the continuation of the tuition fees itself, or to make it possible to combine the army serving with distance education, etc. All this is thoroughly discussed in the Defense Ministry’s relevant document, we will closely cooperate with the MD on this issue.

3. The management of schools

To switch from the decentralization to a more centralized system, to develop a new system for solving the problems of appointing directors and dismissing the teachers, teacher’s qualifications, their hiring and release of, to create a special school training verification inspection, determine the status of teachers, salary.

4. The structure of school

High School
To make own decisions on that issue within international standards, which is to be natural and consistent with the habits of our nation, formed during decades, useful for our state and people.

5. There was a proposal again to return to the division of higher and secondary education into different ministries, creation of the Ministry of Education in which besides all the schools, all the educational institutions in addition will be involved, which prepare personnel for the schools.

6. Standards, programs, textbooks
To provide television training, especially for remote regions.

7. Organization of exams, test question (it is offered installation at least 200-500 test in each subject in the Internet, only among which exam tests will be selected).

We think that these problems are concerned with all of our citizens, and the works of the PC in this direction should possibly contribute to the national discussion.

The future of our state and our nation and our place in the world history, our capabilities significantly depend on the fact whether what solution of the problems of the general education system we will give.

The chairman of the Public Council Vazgen Manukyan