VIDEO. "Everything is being done to ensure that all teachers are disappointed" - Protest against MoES

Teachers from numerous schools across Armenia are staging a protest in front of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. They are opposing the new standards and demanding that their rights are not infringed upon.

“Everything is being done to ensure that all teachers are disappointed, leading to a shortage of teachers in schools. There are vacant teaching positions everywhere, and this situation continues. I don't even know what they plan to do next,” stated an English language teacher participating in the protest.

Regarding the voluntary certification, she emphasized that the questions for the "English" subject are sourced from abroad, and despite her and her colleagues' high level of knowledge, they may still not be able to answer some of the questions. The teacher stressed the need for training sessions.

Susanna Galstyan, a teacher of the Armenian language and literature, also pointed out that their rights are being violated as they continue to work at home after their official hours, filling out weekly plans during weekends, and there exists a disparity in salaries among teachers. “Some teachers receive salary increases, while others do not, which is incorrect. I am happy for my colleagues, but when increasing, it should be done for everyone, and then they can call for voluntary certification. Many teachers are simply leaving their jobs due to these conditions. Currently, the most affected professionals in the republic are teachers,” she highlighted.

Speaking about the newly published books, the teacher noted that the "Native Language" book intended for the 5th grade has been published and is quite accessible. However, Galstyan pointed out that there are also shortcomings regarding the curriculum, as some topics that are present in the textbook are missing from the plan.