Summer Military Training Camp to Be Mandatory for 11th Graders, Says Minister of Education

The Minister of Education and Science, Zhanna Andreasyan, visited the Araham Manukyan Specialized Military School today to meet with students participating in the summer military training camp organized under the framework of the "Preliminary Military Training" subject.

According to the Ministry of Education and Science, the camp is designed for students who have been transferred to the 11th grade and is organized in five phases as part of the implementation of the new standards for general education. The first phase began on June 15.

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan observed educational exercises of the camp's participants, including practical trainings on "Survival Basics" and "Fire Training." Camp participants completed river crossings, overcame difficult terrains, demonstrated the disarmament of simulated diversionary groups, and provided first aid.

Welcoming the campers, the minister noted that summer military training camps will become mandatory for all students transferred to the 11th grade in the upcoming academic year, except in cases where students have health issues incompatible with the training activities.

"For the second year now, with the involvement of schools in the Tavush region, we have the opportunity to understand how effectively we are organizing the work of the camps and transmitting essential skills and knowledge for life. The camp exercises are crucial for navigating various situations, maintaining clear reasoning, acting calmly, helping others, and becoming good citizens of our state. I am confident that during these days, you are not only learning the subject but also developing teamwork and responsibility by solving tasks together. I am also sure you have made friends and gained new knowledge during this time," said Zhanna Andreasyan.

The minister expressed hope that the students would leave the camp more mature and prepared for challenges, which are inevitable. "Of course, our shared goal is to make peace a reality in our region. On the path to achieving peace, we must also be ready to face all challenges, and the work you are doing here is tremendously important," she affirmed.

Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that the camp is vital for children, as they acquire practical skills from the "Preliminary Military Training" subject, which also integrates the subject of "Civil Defense." Therefore, according to the minister, the military training camp will significantly enhance the quality of teaching the "Preliminary Military Training" subject.

It is noteworthy that participants conduct their training in mixed groups—boys and girls—at different times of the day to, for example, learn how to navigate using stars. They are taught fundamental skills such as how to cross a river, orient in a forest environment, climb steep terrains, sleep in tents, fire weapons, and overcome mountainous conditions.

According to Arthur Karapetyan, the lead member of the authorial group for the curriculum of the Initial Military Training subject, the camp experience has shown that the practical training volume of the "Survival Basics" program needs to be increased by reducing its theoretical part. "Children learn to orient themselves in emergencies, find food and water, solve various complex problems, and navigate correctly in the area," said Arthur Karapetyan, emphasizing that these skills are necessary for everyone throughout their lives.

Arkadi Petrosyan, the director of the Araham Manukyan Specialized Military School, noted that particularly girls are participating in the camp with great enthusiasm. "Girls are more curious and disciplined. Last year, we even had an incident where one girl, after going home, returned to the camp on the same bus. For the organization of activities, we have involved not just military instructors but also psychologists and other specialists in the pedagogical team," he stated.

The program for the military training camp in general education was first piloted in 2021 as a practical phase for teaching the "Preliminary Military Training" (PMT) subject. The program is included in the new standards for general education and the new curriculum for the PMT subject. It is being piloted in schools in the Tavush region of Armenia. Similar to a military unit, the camp is organized with two components—theoretical lessons and practical training—and this phase is attended by about 138 students from schools in the Noyemberyan community of Tavush region. The first shift of the camp will conclude on June 25.