Teachers of Abovyan School No. 1 Invited to Police Under New Principal's Instructions

The former principal of Abovyan School No. 1, Metaksy Baghayan, along with vice-principal Armen Avagyan and teachers, were summoned to the Police Department of Kotayk under the instructions of newly appointed principal Karmela Arakelyan. This information was reported today by history teacher Hayk Paytian, who claims that the entire teaching staff is convinced that the new principal is under the patronage of Romanos Petrosyan, the former governor of Kotayk and Minister of Environment, which is the reason for the school witnessing irregularities.

Paytian stated that the entire controversy began after the director election held on January 22, where the council votes were evenly split 4-4, and the Minister of Education and Science should have addressed the issue of electing the school's director. He noted that the governing council electing the principal consists of 8 members: 2 representatives from the teaching staff, 2 from the parental council, 3 from the Minister of Education and Science in the case of high schools, and one from the governor's office.

“There is no clear reason why she was given any votes at all, other than the fact that it was an order,” he said, adding that the staff had submitted a request to the Ministry of Education, hoping that the ministry would value their input and make the correct choice by retaining the former principal. Ultimately, the minister chose Karmela Arakelyan, a decision that is incomprehensible according to the teacher's assessment, as there are absurdities written in the decision, such as Karmela Arakelyan graduating from Yerevan State Pedagogical University and having teaching experience since 1994, while the former principal graduated from Yerevan State University and has had teaching experience since 1991. According to him, the reasons presented for the choice do not hold up.

“They don’t compare the programs presented by both candidates to clarify things. They don’t need to bring in their patron; they just want to fill the council with their people and conduct the election. The problem is that the same situation exists throughout Kotayk province. Several schools have faced the same scenario in the selection process for school principals, and the same handwriting is evident,” Paytian added. One council member is Romanos Petrosyan's wife, Armine Petrosyan, who is part of the governing councils of Abovyan schools No. 2, 7, 10, and high school No. 4.

Paytian also introduced the remaining members of the governing council, detailing their connections to the former governor. For instance, Ani Chilingaryan, a former aide to the governor, is included in the governing councils of Abovyan School No. 1 and No. 7. Mayranush Navoyan, who is the wife of Romanos Petrosyan's brother, is included in the governing councils of Abovyan Schools No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6. “Romanos's sister-in-law, Ani Hakobyan, is also in the governing councils of Abovyan Schools No. 1, 4, and 6. Melina Gasparyan, who works at the Kotayk governor's office and is one of Romanos's associates, is also in the governing councils of those schools. What is this if not intentional appointments for political reasons?” he commented.

In discussing the notification they received summoning him, the former principal, and the teaching staff to the police station, he mentioned that it was based on the report of the newly appointed principal. He stated that the latter refused to give testimony, but informed the other teachers that they were invited for various reasons, including obstructing the minister's decision. “Naturally, this was not the case. We were simply inviting representatives from the ministry today to explain what their decision means. They provided no explanation, giving off the impression that we must agree regardless, since we earn a salary of 60,000,” he emphasized, adding that today the teachers did not conduct classes and do not intend to work alongside Arakelyan in the same school, while students voluntarily chose not to attend school.