Behind the Titles of Clergy, Teachers, and Freedom Fighters, Sometimes Theft is Hidden: Pashinyan

Should we address all issues, or should we say that if you are a freedom fighter, then there is no question if you have a "korchkan"? If you are a clergyman, then you have a "korchkan", and if you wear the robe, there are no questions about you. If you are a teacher, then you are the sanctity of sanctities. This was stated today, on October 9, by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in his closing speech at the conference "What to Do-2: Economic Revolution, Perception, and Implementation".

He noted that there are cases where people hide behind their title and gain immunity. "In other words, being a freedom fighter sounds grand, no one can doubt it, but we have phenomena where being a freedom fighter means having the right to steal, to humiliate, to be above the law, and the same applies to being a clergyman; the title is one thing, the reality is another," he said.

Pashinyan emphasized that there is a statistical and substantive reality in the country. The statistical reality is that there are currently more than 10,000 people working in the education sector, and there is a reality where those hiding behind the title of teacher lack sufficient professional knowledge.

The Prime Minister shared a story from his student days: "And also under the title of lecturer. I remember when I was studying at Yerevan State University; a lecturer entered the classroom and stated his perception of geography—saying that first comes Nakhichevan, then Ijevan. He was a lecturer, held a scientific title. Should we address it, or should we say, 'freedom fighter, end of story; if you have a 'korchkan', there is no issue with you; if you are a clergyman with a 'korchkan' and wear the robe, then there are no questions; if you are a teacher, then you are the sanctity of sanctities.' Is the title truly the sanctity of sanctities? If that’s the case, then the minister should say, 'I am a minister too, shouldn't I have a five-story house?'"

Pashinyan noted that he views the title of Prime Minister the same way. "If we have started with ourselves, then we must continue. How much does the guild level correspond to our current demands? We will go and ask these questions, and there will be demonstrations, there will be protests. Should we address doctoral dissertations in Armenia? When we approach someone, we find out that half are fake. I see no alternative to solving problems in the education sector in Armenia without addressing this."

Pashinyan stated that illiterate individuals should not have the opportunity to enter the classroom: "During the revolution, many said that students were out on the streets. I hope you are all convinced that we made no actions directed towards that, perhaps only in cases where we saw that doors were closed, and students were not allowed to leave the building. But what is that? It is a protest against the education system. It was a true rebellion of students against schools."