Rumors of Closure at Pedagogical University Spark Panic; Stated to be Misinformation

Yesterday, alarming news surfaced that the Armenian State Pedagogical University might be closing and that the large building on Khachatur Supyan Street could be sold. Speculations even included the name of a potential buyer, Khachatur Sukiasyan. Some faculty members working in that building have begun searching for new employment, convinced that they would be left unemployed due to the university's potential dissolution. This was reported by hraparak.am.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Gegham Melikbekyan, quickly moved to calm the faculty after hearing about the "stir." He stated, “The information does not correspond to reality.” When asked if it is possible that discussions may surface later, Melikbekyan replied, “That is misinformation.”

Pedagogical University spokesperson Diana Markosyan noted, “There have been rumors about our university closing for ten years, but as you can see, we are still here.” However, many subjects that have been discussed over the past decade have ultimately become reality. Is it possible that the Khachatur building would be taken away from the Pedagogical University, becoming a reason for closure? “The Pedagogical University has four buildings,” said the spokesperson.

Businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan's spokesperson responded to questions regarding any plans to purchase the university's building on Khachatur Supyan Street: “Mr. Sukiasyan had a good laugh about it. What building haven’t they tied us to in recent years?”

A source close to the Ministry of Education indicated that some universities are facing optimization issues: “For instance, the chemistry faculty at the Pedagogical University has few students; that could potentially be merged with the university’s chemistry faculty. But this is at the level of discussions,” he stated.

We contacted the president of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, Deputy Minister of Education Zhanna Andreasian, to clarify the basis of the rumors regarding the closure of one of the oldest universities in Armenia.

“I don’t even intend to comment on such nonsense. Regarding the faculty, you know that I am connected to the faculty; I am the president of the university’s Board of Trustees, and I believe that we should not communicate through journalists. I was at the university on Monday, and if there is an issue, I will meet directly with them, but that news is absurd,” she stated.

Is it possible that an optimization plan is being discussed, potentially merging faculties with few students with those at other universities? “I have nothing more to tell you. I do not coordinate the direction of the universities. Now you are pulling me into another, even more absurd consideration,” she replied. “If you say no, then there is none; why should I involve you? I can already imagine your headline: you are talking about people; there is no need to create additional tension for the sake of sensations when there are no grounds for it. We are going to develop programs for the pedagogical university, not harm it in any way. There will be development programs,” the Deputy Minister of Education responded.

But somehow, we no longer believe in the word “development” coming from these officials. God willing, we are wrong.