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Writing On The Wall For Children's Rights In Armenia

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  • Writing On The Wall For Children's Rights In Armenia

    WRITING ON THE WALL FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN ARMENIA

    Reuters Alert
    http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield /wvmeero/71b343f504bcf8a33e099344070e0205.htm
    May 12 2009
    UK

    Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this
    article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are
    the author's alone.

    Performances, drawings, humour and songs gave students in Gyumri a
    chance to illustrate critical issues harming their rights during a
    recent event held by student councils.

    Different attitudes of teachers towards students, bribery, poor school
    conditions, and lack of teaching materials were issues students raised,
    as well as the problems teachers themselves face, for instance,
    students' absenteeism and low interest towards education.

    It was also stressed that teachers' salaries are among the lowest in
    Armenia, sometimes driving teachers to leave teaching and search for
    a job with better pay.

    'We have a newspaper at school that allows us to express all our
    concerns. But it is still not enough. We want also some actions that
    will bring visible changes', said Samvel Melkonyan, 16 and head of
    the Student Council at #37 school.

    'School is a place where a student may face bribing and flattering
    for the first time. The school can bring up and educate a good or
    demoralised person to the society', said Karen Davtyan, 16 from
    school #11.

    Teachers, school principles and the head of the Shirak Marz Education
    Department were also present during the event. Though it is difficult
    for students to talk about critical issues in front of their school
    management both teams succeeded to highlight limitations that hinder
    their education. Students also shared their understanding of rights
    by quoting appropriate articles from the Constitution of Armenia and
    referring to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child injecting
    a real sense of seriousness into the performances.

    'Each class has a council at our school. They bring all the
    concerns to the Student's Council with which we have meetings every
    week. Behaviour, cleanliness, student-teacher relationships are the
    main concerns', said Hrayr Karapetyan, principle of school #11.

    'It is time for action. Otherwise the next generation will inherit
    the same problems of the school', she continued.

    'Even though our school was not a winner, I am for this kind of
    initiative. It helps us to work in a team, to concentrate on existing
    problems, and to consolidate all knowledge gained during the course
    of Political Science', said Jemma Gevorgyan, 15 from school #37.

    'I liked the idea that three of the five jury members are
    children. Being a jury is a hard task. We study Political Science at
    school and it is a good chance for children to put their knowledge
    into practice', said Karush Hoveyan, 16 from school #37.

    'Through competitions we aim to activate the Students' Councils and
    encourage them to be advocates for their rights. We want them to
    contribute more to the improvement of the education process through
    providing tangible support to the school management', said Shaghik
    Maroukhyan, World Vision Armenia Operations Manager (currently
    overseeing Gyumri Area Development Programme).
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