A Yerevan School Refuses Admission to a Child from Artsakh

In the wake of Azerbaijan's recent atrocities, the entire Republic of Artsakh has been depopulated, leaving people in an extremely dire situation. More than 100,000 individuals from Artsakh are now in Armenia. We live in a reality divided into two parts: those who show compassion and the callous indifferent. Many are trying in every possible way to help and support the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh, but they share their environment with those who are cold-hearted and sometimes cruel. This was reported by the newspaper 'Hraparak.'

Yesterday, the newspaper received an alarming message from a large family mother from Artsakh, who claimed that Yerevan's School No. 122 rejected the admission of her 8-year-old son, citing illogical and incomprehensible reasons: 'I am a mother of four children. My son is 8 years old, and the other three are older and studying at the university. My son studied in a Russian class in Stepanakert, Artsakh. His thinking is Russian, as is his education; it will be very difficult for him to attend an Armenian school in an Armenian class. We applied to Yerevan's School No. 122 to place him in a class with Russian education, but they responded that they could not accept our child because neither of his parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation, and also that the child must have received Russian education for five consecutive years to be admitted to the school. However, my child is in the third grade and has received only three years of Russian education. I said, 'Fine, if your law requires this, we will apply to the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES).'

We contacted the ministry, and they persuaded us to apply to an Armenian school. But why? The child has attended a Russian school for three years; why create additional difficulties for a child already facing great challenges and stress? Currently, my child is not attending any school.

From the MoES, they said they would find a solution, and then called us to say that we could apply to the school and start the process. We applied again, and then they said that a commission needed to be assigned, and a conclusion would be drawn regarding whether the child truly meets the requirements for a Russian class or not. A commission was appointed, they spoke with the child, and concluded that indeed, my child should study in a Russian class. However, afterwards, the school again refused to accept my child. Today, I went to the school; do you know what excuse they gave now? They said that if the child does not have a sister or brother at the same school, they cannot accept him. Who has heard of such a thing? For what reason? My child does not have a school-age sister or brother. What kind of answer is that?' stated the concerned mother from Artsakh.

The newspaper contacted Yerevan's School No. 122 to clarify why they are not admitting the child from Artsakh, despite the MoES's promise that all school-age children from Artsakh could study in schools close to their temporary residence. A school staff member stated that neither the director nor the deputy director could speak.

The ministry informed the newspaper that there are no available spots in grades 1-4 at Yerevan's School No. 122, which is likely the reason the child from Artsakh was not admitted. When asked why they had stated that the child must have a sister or brother at the same school to be accepted, they said that due to recent events, the MoES had decided that if a student in the 7th grade has a sister or brother who needs to be admitted to the 2nd or 3rd grade, but there is no space, exceptions would be made to avoid inconveniences for the parent. It is unclear what the exception is when there is no space and why it is impossible to make an exception for this child.