Minister Arsen Torosyan Issues Absurd Order

Yerevan.Today reports that Health Minister Arsen Torosyan has issued another absurd order today, causing chaos in the entire educational system. University rectors have been engaged in tense phone calls and discussions since the morning, trying to decipher Torosyan's line of thought.

Documents revealing the ministry's decree suggest that the Ministry of Health has ordered all higher educational institutions and secondary vocational establishments to dismiss all lecturers aged 65 and over, indefinitely. The same order mandates that they swiftly select deserving younger replacements. This is happening at a time when the academic year has commenced, schedules have been set, and classes have been allocated.

Furthermore, the minister's order does not specify how the professors sent on compulsory leave will be paid or how their replacements will be compensated concurrently. Consequently, the order fails to address the additional financial burden, leaving no responsible party accountable.

Adding to the absurdity, the rectorate has been instructed to identify, within one or two days, any health issues among their students and faculty. If these issues align with those specified by the ministry, both the lecturer and the student will be deprived of their right to enter the university.

Although studying and working is a constitutional right for everyone, the ministry's phone reminders indicate that Minister Torosyan's order is subject to mandatory implementation. Otherwise, as stated in the official letter, “the responsibility for ensuring healthy and safe conditions in the educational institution rests entirely with the rector or director.”

This means that if any student or lecturer fails to disclose personal health issues, such as immunosuppression, a recent family COVID case, or digestive disorders, the university head may have to resign if the truth comes to light.

Why should students have to reveal such deep and personal data due to the new sanitary conditions imposed by the minister? Why must students disclose their health histories and consequently be targeted within the academic environment? Following this disclosure, they may be denied entry into the university by Minister Torosyan's decree.

Furthermore, why should a student divulge information about their epilepsy, tumor, HIV, or Hepatitis C? To what extent are they obligated to disclose this, and how protected are they from being targeted?

These and other inquiries directed at the ministry must be answered by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan, to ensure the safety of stakeholders and personnel in his field.

During discussions at the government regarding this order, Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan should have raised concerns regarding the additional financial burden (salary). However, it appears neither he, the commandant, nor the prime minister have the capacity or willingness to oppose Arsen Torosyan, as all decisions lacking reasoning are justified under the heading of ‘COVID-19 preventive measures.’

Essentially, by the order of the Health Minister, as part of the newly established COVID-19 prevention sanitary rules within all educational institutions, seasoned professors and leading researchers will be filtered out from the faculty. Once expelled, they are expected to manage students' personal data, which constitutes a gross violation of the law and an infringement on citizens' rights.

Auroranews attempted to reach out to Health Minister Arsen Torosyan's spokesperson for clarification, but they have yet to respond to our calls.