Educational Process Resumes from November 13

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on the educational system, as evidenced by numerous studies from various countries and research institutions. It leads not only to irrevocable gaps in children's development but also to a decrease in their social protection, creating serious risks of impoverishment and ultimately hindering public development, which has already been supported by several studies.

Therefore, while placing utmost importance on measures aimed at preventing the coronavirus, it is also essential to ensure minimum operational conditions for the educational system, especially considering that there is no short-term resolution in sight, and this situation demands long-term solutions.

Moreover, ensuring quality education in the face of the country’s major challenges is a national security issue, and maximum efforts must be made to support its advancement.

From November 13, 2020, it is proposed to organize the educational process in educational institutions as follows:

1. Higher education, initial, and secondary vocational institutions will organize teaching remotely, except for practical classes in specific specialties, which should be scheduled for the end of the academic semester and conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Armenian Ministry of Health's decree No. 17-N of August 4, 2020.
2. In communities with inter-community transportation, grades 5-12 will operate entirely remotely in public educational institutions. In other communities, public educational institutions will operate for grades 5-12 in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Ministry of Health's decree No. 24-N of September 18, 2020.
3. Organizing remote education for grades 1-4 in public educational institutions is considered inadvisable due to the ineffectiveness of remote education for these grades. Moreover, considering the incomplete implementation of the educational process caused by the spread of the coronavirus since March 2020, and based on current forecasts that the pandemic will not recede in the coming months, remote education in these grades may lead to an additional academic year for learners, which will have a significant negative impact on the normal development of tens of thousands of children. Therefore, in these grades, regardless of the location of the educational institution, the educational process will be organized in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Health's decree No. 24-N of September 18, 2020.
4. As it is impossible to conduct pre-school activities remotely, and the continuous cessation of these activities poses significant negative consequences for children's development, as well as considering the socio-economic issues that arise for thousands of workers in the sector and their families during the absence of these institutions, it is proposed to resume the activities of preschool institutions in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Health's decree No. 17-N of August 4, 2020.
5. A similar situation arises with the activities of art, artistic, and music schools. Therefore, it is also proposed to resume their activities while adhering to the established anti-epidemic rules, in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Health's decree No. 17-N of August 4, 2020.

At the same time, we emphasize that strict adherence to anti-epidemic rules is a priority in the educational system.

We also inform you that in this situation, the educational system has taken priority steps towards two important issues: the realization of the right to education of thousands of children moved from the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia and the development, mental health, and necessary support for children in wartime and post-war conditions. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Yerevan State University and the Association of Child Psychologists, is implementing training for teachers in all public educational institutions to provide necessary support to children. This important support group also includes children relocated from Artsakh to Armenia.