Only a True Educator Can Hit a Child: Armine Davtyan's Statement and Reactions

Armine Davtyan, the director of the Republican Psychological-Pedagogical Center, has sparked attention from education officials with her comments on Facebook. In response to a user’s remark that nobody has the right to hit a child, Davtyan replied, "Except a true educator."

Vahagn Tevosyan, a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports, addressed the issue, stating, "I believe I will initiate public-professional hearings involving Armine Davtyan, where we will ask the expert director to justify her post by presenting the entire context. Based on those conclusions, we will likely provide an assessment."

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports has also commented on Davtyan's controversial post. "To clarify the situation, the ministry will formally request an explanation from Ms. Davtyan, and after receiving it, measures will be taken based on the explanation and the ensuing discussions. Representatives of the public will also be involved in these discussions," stated the minister's spokesperson, Angela Khzhdryan.

Concerns regarding Armine Davtyan's statement were also expressed by the Educational Civic Initiative, which deemed it inappropriate for her official position and profession. "We demand that the Ministry of Education and Science initiate a service investigation against the official and ensure the transparency of the investigation process and the public disclosure of its results. We expect Armine Davtyan's public comments regarding her educational and methodological tools and expressed opinions. We call on the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth, and Sports to finally organize public hearings to bring the issues of educational content, children's rights, and dignity onto the public agenda," the initiative's statement reads.