The Minister Himself Can Call on Students to Return to Classrooms: Arshaluis Galstyan

“I have never thought that I could be subjected to mockery by any state official during a meeting. This was stated today, November 19, by Arshaluis Galstyan, a lecturer and associate professor at Yerevan State University’s Department of Armenian Literature, while speaking with reporters regarding the meeting between the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Arayik Harutyunyan, and faculty members yesterday.

He noted that the decorum of himself and his colleagues would prevent them from crossing acceptable boundaries during such meetings. “We can express emotional speeches, but we cannot go beyond permissible limits,” he said.

In response to a question regarding whether the meeting was constructive, as the minister had repeatedly stated his willingness for constructive dialogue, Galstyan replied, “I don’t think so. This is my personal opinion, but I believe that constructive dialogue is one thing; in the end, you heard again that the minister said to go find common ground with your colleagues — is this a constructive discussion?”

Galstyan indicated that if there’s another discussion at YSU involving faculty members, it is possible that a decision will be made again and faculty members may go on strike once more. “You know that the decision for a one-day strike was made with two votes against at the general discussion meeting; if there is such a meeting, I believe each of us will express our decision freely, without any pressure,” he noted.

He referred to the minister's statement during yesterday's meeting, where the minister suggested they call on students to halt the strike. “I think that the words of the minister or any government employee should have a greater impact. Instead of urging us, the minister himself could call on the students to return to the classrooms,” Galstyan remarked.

When asked by reporters whether absentees are being recorded, Galstyan responded, “All faculty members come during working hours, and if it is mandated by law to fill in the registers, I believe they are being filled. None of us had such questions last April; those absentees were recorded or not.”

It is worth noting that the Ministry had issued a statement reiterating that they are ready for discussions with all interested parties. Following this, a meeting took place yesterday at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports with Minister Arayik Harutyunyan and the faculty, which both faculty members and students expressed dissatisfaction with.

Additionally, students from YSU's Armenian Linguistics Faculty are protesting the draft law on “Higher Education and Science” and continuing their strike which began last week. A segment of YSU faculty members also joined the students’ strike a few days ago with a one-day strike. Meanwhile, near the ministry building, members of the Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation are continuing their sit-in, demanding the resignation of Minister Arayik Harutyunyan. They express dissatisfaction with the ministry's policies, considering them as anti-national.