Student Council Established Under Education Minister's Initiative, Says Arayik Harutyunyan

Students will now have the opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process on various issues. They will present proposals, voice their opinions, and vote on relevant decisions.

According to a decree by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Arayik Harutyunyan, the formation procedure for a student council under the minister has been approved.

As stated in the annex to the relevant decree, the council may consist of students from the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, who are part of their school student councils, actively participate in discussions on various school and community life issues, solve problems, and organize events.

The students will be elected by a relevant commission that will be formed in the coming days.

The main objectives of this program include fostering conditions for students to express themselves freely, protecting their rights and freedoms, among others.

The idea of establishing a student council originated from the students themselves. They had made such a proposal during a meeting with Arayik Harutyunyan last year.

The members of the student council will consist of 40 school students from all regions of Armenia, including Yerevan, and institutions operating under the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport. This will also include students with special educational needs and representatives from national minorities.

Participation of members from the regions in meetings will be guaranteed by an employee from the Education, Culture, and Sports Department of the respective region.

The council's activities will be organized through meetings, which will be convened at least twice a year, and extraordinary meetings may be called if necessary. These meetings will be open to the public and will also invite interested parties regarding agenda items.

The students included in the council will have the opportunity to make advisory decisions. Such decisions will be made through open voting, based on a majority of votes, and in case of a tie, the vote of the council's chairperson will be decisive. The council will be led by the Minister of Education, who will chair the meetings, approve the agenda, sign the minutes, and determine the composition of other invitees.

Members' main responsibility is to attend meetings and present decisions or observations on issues. It is noted that the agenda of the meetings is expected to be formed based on proposals presented by the chairperson and members. Students wishing to include an item in the council meeting's agenda must submit their proposals at least ten days before the meeting, notifying the ministry and attaching the necessary materials.

The formed council will be published on the ministry's official website and will function for a term of two years. However, students can be removed from the council if they are absent from meetings without a valid reason three times or graduate from school. They may also leave based on their own request.