Will the Jrahovit School Be Demolished? Residents Protest, What Officials Say

Residents of Jrahovit village in Ararat province are concerned about a rumored decision from the regional government to demolish their school. A parent of a student, who requested not to be named, informed NEWS.am that they are currently staging a protest against the school's demolition.

"We do not agree with the demolition of our school, and instead, we are expected to send our children over 2 kilometers away to the nearby Arevabuyr school, which is located near a cemetery in a marshy area. I am a parent of two children, and I am categorically against the government's decision," the parent stated.

They explained that after the government's decision to merge communities, Jrahovit and Arevabuyr are supposed to have one school, which will be built in the central part of both villages.

"People are tense; we want our children to study in a well-organized and proper environment, and that should be in our village. It seems that Arevabuyr has good connections and relatives in the regional government, which is why the new school is being built there," the parent added.

They noted that over 160 students currently attend the school, and the distance to the school in Arevabuyr is 2 kilometers.

Kristine Poghosyan, assistant to the Ararat Regional Governor, clarified to NEWS.am that no decision has been made to demolish the specified school. "No school is being demolished anywhere, and the discussion about building a new school is still in the planning stage. If it is decided that a school is to be built in Arevabuyr, it has nothing to do with the Jrahovit school. The school will continue its operation as usual, and children will attend school today, tomorrow, and in the following days. The governor met with the parents of the students last week, and clarifications were provided on this issue. If it is decided, for example, to build a new school in Arevabuyr, the current school building will not be demolished until the new school is ready, which means that children will not have to attend schools in nearby villages," she explained.