Yerevan: Students stage sit-in to demand Minister’s resignationNovember 7, 2019 - 14:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Students of the Yerevan State University are staging a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, demanding the resignation of the Minister, Arayik Harutyunyan. They are urging students from other universities and educational institutions to join their protest which comes on the heels of a proposed draft law that would see the removal of the compulsory courses of Armenian language, Armenian literature and Armenian history from university curricula. The demonstrators cited the police cordon between themselves and the Ministry building as a proof of a “water divide that separates the Minister from education, students and schools.” The Ministry said recently that it is going to draft a proposal that would make the three courses optional, particularly for students who do not major in humanities. But when the students of YSU’s Faculty of Armenian Philology took to the streets to protest against the proposed change, the Ministry issued a statement, according to which the draft law grants wide autonomy to universities to determine the content of educational and scientific programs. “Therefore, once the draft law is approved, the scientific council of each university can decide whether these subjects must or must not be taught in all faculties,” the statement reads. Most faculties in Armenian universities require students to pass an Armenian language exam in order to be enrolled. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |