Byurakn Secondary School Principal Reelected Amid Criminal Investigation

Yesterday, a competition was held for the vacant principal position at Byurakn Secondary School in the Shirak region. The principal's powers had been terminated due to the expiration of her term. Seven out of the eight members of the management council attended the competition, and prior to the day of the competition, the representatives from the management council, the regional administration, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports had changed due to the expiration of their three-year terms.

Only one candidate applied for the principal position: the current principal, Lusine Melikyan. She was reelected in a closed and secret ballot with a vote ratio of 5 in favor and 2 against.

SHANTNEWS.am attempted to contact Lusine Melikyan after the competition, but her phone was consistently unavailable. The chairperson of the management council, Alina Farynyan, who is also a teacher at the school, refused to answer our questions during a phone call and hung up.

A representative from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports informed SHANTNEWS.am that, although there were no procedural violations in the competition, the members of the management council, especially the school teachers and parents, asked almost no questions of the sole candidate. The chairperson of the management council was even unfamiliar with the candidate's proposed developmental conceptual program.

It is worth noting that there has been a long-standing tense situation at Byurakn Secondary School. Parents of students have repeatedly expressed complaints and concerns about the principal's illegal actions, and interpersonal relationships between the principal and many teachers were strained. Parents complained that their children were classified as having health issues and included in an inclusive education program. Of the 74 students at the school, 43 were considered to need inclusive education.

Furthermore, the Shirak region prosecutor's office has initiated a criminal case concerning the events at Byurakn School under Article 325 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the falsification of documents, seals, stamps, forms, and vehicle registration plates, as well as their implementation or use. Currently, a preliminary investigation is ongoing. Should any elements indicative of an apparent crime be discovered, additional criminal cases will be initiated.