What Rectors Feared Behind Closed Doors of the National Assembly and What to Expect Tomorrow

Armlur.am reports that on March 1, independent MP Taguhi Tovmasyan initiated a working discussion on the package of the draft law on "Higher Education" in the National Assembly, to which rectors of Armenian state universities and the president of the National Academy of Sciences were invited to participate, along with other MPs. However, at the last moment, the president of the Council of Rectors of State Higher Educational Institutions, Ruzanna Hakobyan, informed the MP and her assistant that the rectors had concerns about the safety of attending the National Assembly on March 1, especially due to the closure of Baghramyan Avenue. For this reason, they refused to enter the National Assembly building.

Amidst this backdrop, it is interesting to note that tomorrow, the chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, and Sport, Mikayel Hayrapetyan, and the vice-chairman, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, have initiated a discussion on the same draft law regarding higher education. ArmLur.am attempted to clarify from the organizers which rectors agreed to participate in the organized discussion at the National Assembly and who rejected the invitation. This inquiry comes in light of the fact that for several days, both entrances of the National Assembly have been blocked, not only the one on Baghramyan but also the one on Demirchyan Street, and MPs can only enter through the economic entrance.

Georgy Meliksetyan, Mikayel Hayrapetyan’s assistant, informed ArmLur.am that the rectors of Yerevan State University, Yerevan State Medical University, the Academy of Public Administration, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Pedagogical University have already declined the Education Committee's offer and refused to participate. This means they will not attend the National Assembly through the blocked entrances.

On the other hand, the rectors of the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan, the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Armenia, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, the National Agrarian University of Armenia, the Brusov State University, the State Institute of Theatre and Cinema, Shiraz M. Nalbandyan State University, Vanadzor H. Tumanyan State University, and Gavar State University have already given their consent to attend, according to the MP's assistant.

When ArmLur.am inquired if Ruzanna Hakobyan, the rector of Gavar State University, would participate in the upcoming discussion under the circumstances with both entrances of the National Assembly blocked and Baghramyan Avenue closed again, she replied, “There was an invitation a week ago; now the situation is different, I don’t know if it will happen or not. What will happen tomorrow, I cannot tell; we will live and see. I cannot say at this moment whether the meeting will take place.” It is noteworthy that this discussion will be held behind closed doors.

What prompted the necessity for such a discussion? The previous time, the My Step faction voted against the government-recognized urgent draft law on higher education. The reason was, in fact, independent MP Taguhi Tovmasyan. She had raised this law during the first day of the March 2 session, drawing the attention of the National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan to an important circumstance: her proposals had not been voted on in the committee, which she deemed a crime. To correct the mistake made by the National Assembly, it was decided in conjunction with the government to withdraw the law for re-discussion, to be voted on again, and only then to bring it to the plenary sessions of the National Assembly for second reading and full approval.