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The Armenian Observer
June 24, 2010 Thursday 4:44 PM EST
Parliament passes controversial foreign-language school bill
Jun. 24, 2010 (The Armenian Observer delivered by Newstex) --
Armenia -- The National Assembly votes on controversial amendments
allowing foreign-language schools, 24June 2010.
The ruling coalition pushed through parliament on Thursday governments
controversial legal amendments allowing establishment of
foreign-language schools in the country, amid criticism and protests.
Opposition groups, prominent intellectuals and other public figures
who regard the amendments as a serious threat to Armenias sole
official language, have voiced concerns, calling the move a sell-off
to Russia.
They refer, of course, to the Soviet times, when Russian language
schools operating in Armenia were considered more prestigious and
people educated in the regular Armenian-language schools were looked
down upon.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Yerevan has officially announced
Russia has no involvement or special interest in the bill.
The government has already altered the bill twice to appease critics,
limiting to 11 the number of schools where the prime language of
education could be in a foreign language (supposedly English, French
or Russian).
With the second round of amendments especially, the Ministry of
Education responsible for the bill, said only two private schools
created with private investment and located outside of capital Yerevan
would have foreign-language education from 7th grade. The remaining 9
schools would be Ë`high-schools (9 to 12th grades).
Putting things in a context, it is important to point out, that
several foreign language schools operate in Armenia currently, even
though their existence is sub-legal, officials say. Quality Schools
International is one example, Russian language schools for the
families of Russian officers appointed to the Russian military base in
Gyumri and border guards, are other examples.
Moreover, all schools offer compulsory Russian, English, French or
German language courses, and there are around 30 schools, which have
enhanced language courses in Russian, English, French.
I have initially been strongly opposed to the bill, but after the
authorities have been forced to agree to very strong limitations, I
dont really see much point in continuing this fight. I was especially
concerned with the possibility, that scarce state funding would be
taken away from public schools to fund those Ë`elit ones, but now, my
understanding is, that those schools will only be privately funded or
be co-funded with inter-governmental agreements, and thats good enough
for me.
Meanwhile, I applaud those civil activists coming from very diverse
backgrounds, who fought against the bill and forced more concessions
on any bill the government has been eager to push through, than any
political force has been able to do in the past decade.
From: A. Papazian
June 24, 2010 Thursday 4:44 PM EST
Parliament passes controversial foreign-language school bill
Jun. 24, 2010 (The Armenian Observer delivered by Newstex) --
Armenia -- The National Assembly votes on controversial amendments
allowing foreign-language schools, 24June 2010.
The ruling coalition pushed through parliament on Thursday governments
controversial legal amendments allowing establishment of
foreign-language schools in the country, amid criticism and protests.
Opposition groups, prominent intellectuals and other public figures
who regard the amendments as a serious threat to Armenias sole
official language, have voiced concerns, calling the move a sell-off
to Russia.
They refer, of course, to the Soviet times, when Russian language
schools operating in Armenia were considered more prestigious and
people educated in the regular Armenian-language schools were looked
down upon.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Yerevan has officially announced
Russia has no involvement or special interest in the bill.
The government has already altered the bill twice to appease critics,
limiting to 11 the number of schools where the prime language of
education could be in a foreign language (supposedly English, French
or Russian).
With the second round of amendments especially, the Ministry of
Education responsible for the bill, said only two private schools
created with private investment and located outside of capital Yerevan
would have foreign-language education from 7th grade. The remaining 9
schools would be Ë`high-schools (9 to 12th grades).
Putting things in a context, it is important to point out, that
several foreign language schools operate in Armenia currently, even
though their existence is sub-legal, officials say. Quality Schools
International is one example, Russian language schools for the
families of Russian officers appointed to the Russian military base in
Gyumri and border guards, are other examples.
Moreover, all schools offer compulsory Russian, English, French or
German language courses, and there are around 30 schools, which have
enhanced language courses in Russian, English, French.
I have initially been strongly opposed to the bill, but after the
authorities have been forced to agree to very strong limitations, I
dont really see much point in continuing this fight. I was especially
concerned with the possibility, that scarce state funding would be
taken away from public schools to fund those Ë`elit ones, but now, my
understanding is, that those schools will only be privately funded or
be co-funded with inter-governmental agreements, and thats good enough
for me.
Meanwhile, I applaud those civil activists coming from very diverse
backgrounds, who fought against the bill and forced more concessions
on any bill the government has been eager to push through, than any
political force has been able to do in the past decade.
From: A. Papazian