Photos: Children Bound to Chairs at Yerevan Kindergarten No. 92

Today, Facebook user Araksya Svajyan shared photos from Yerevan's Kindergarten No. 92, showing that the children are bound to their chairs.

ArmDaily.am contacted the kindergarten for clarification, to which they responded: “We are aware of the publication of the photos. To get more specific and accurate information, you can visit the kindergarten to understand the situation, meet the staff, and we have special doctors available. You can call the doctors; they will tell you everything, so please don’t worry, there is no problem.”

When asked if the information corresponds with reality, the administrator mentioned, “This is not misinformation, but a matter of lack of awareness. The groups are specifically for children with special needs who have mobility issues; that’s all I can say.”

It is worth noting that Araksya Svajyan wrote alongside the photos: “I have always been deeply concerned about the educational approaches used with children in our country’s educational institutions, but that these approaches could turn into physical violence and be applied without any sense of accountability, particularly with preschool-age children in a specialized preschool educational institution, I believe this is excessive. As a specialist, I cannot remain silent and not raise the issue of the behavioral management approaches used in this so-called pre-inclusive group at Yerevan Kindergarten No. 92. I assert that binding a child or imposing anything by force not only does not contribute to the development of these children but also violates their rights in an institution that is supposedly created to provide them with equal opportunities.”

I believe this issue requires urgent resolution and must clarify the other interesting aspects of the activities being undertaken, both from a general educational viewpoint and in terms of rehabilitative service provision. Sadly, I want to emphasize that I did not wish to publicize this issue to avoid further hurting an already vulnerable sector and to spare the parents of the children attending this kindergarten. However, I must sadly mention that I informed one of the Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Education and Science about all of this 10 days ago, but nothing has changed so far. Once again, I am convinced that currently only public discussion of the issue can resolve the matter.