The Process is Very Complicated, But There is No Alternative: Zhanna Andreasian

The interview phase for the appointment of school principals has been conducted for an extended period by a joint committee, with participation from the ministry and authorized bodies. I would like to share some impressions. This was stated by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasian, on her Facebook page.

“Sometimes, there is a perception among some people that the state's requirements should be different for urban and rural school principals, suggesting that candidates for rural school principals may not possess certain knowledge or that some issues can be overlooked because, in the end, we are talking about a rural school. This approach is actually nothing more than a proposal to categorize our citizens, accepting that the less favorable conditions of some citizens are normal. In other words, if we follow this perception, we must accept that children in those rural areas deserve nothing less than a lower quality education; well, that is the best that can be offered. This is an unacceptable approach. The requirements are the same, the minimum standard of quality in education is the same, and the education accessible to our children must be of the same quality, regardless of their place of residence. This is the message and the action of the education strategy.

It is for this purpose that billions of AMD are being invested in rural areas for increasing teachers' salaries and improving school infrastructure. Because we are talking about our children, who have the same rights, regardless of their place of residence. And yes, acknowledging that it will take time to achieve this, that time should be used to find solutions rather than to adapt to the situation.

Many candidates still believe that the questions have inherently right and wrong answers that need to be memorized. Unfortunately, few participants still realize that being a school principal is primarily about having a vision for development, which must be closely connected with analyzing and formulating the challenges of that school. Becoming a school principal is not a path of rote learning; it is a journey of thought.

The process is very complicated. But there is no alternative. Dear candidates, first and foremost, think about the school you wish to lead; think about the school not just as a building, but as an environment and content,” wrote Zhanna Andreasian.