Andreasyan Addresses News on Removal of Armenian History Textbook from Circulation

The 7th-grade textbook on "Armenian History" will not be removed from circulation. This was stated today by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasyan, during a Q&A session in the National Assembly.

"The observations and opinions that have been raised do not provide any basis for such action. The textbook remains in circulation, and all the issues raised must be addressed," she said, responding to a question from Lilith Galstyan, a member of the "Armenia" faction, regarding the fate of the book.

According to the minister, a summary sheet was compiled that included all opinions, comments, and suggestions received from various experts. The author of the textbook also expressed their views on which suggestions are acceptable, with appropriate justifications. This summary sheet has been published on the ministry's website and sent for an independent review.

"We have also received an independent professional opinion; in some areas, the expert agreed with the author's position and, in others, suggested reviewing them. We have sent this feedback to the author and are awaiting the final revisions from them. If the suggestions are acceptable, the textbook will be entirely free of any inaccuracies, errors, and issues and can continue to be used in schools as an educational textbook," Andreasyan elaborated.

Addressing the issue of teaching with a textbook that contains inaccuracies, the minister noted that over 180 errors had been identified in the long-standing textbook through a cursory examination, including scientific errors and inaccuracies. "Therefore, I leave it to you to consider how justified this public outcry is and how much it is directed," she stated.

Regarding the lawsuit against the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports demanding the removal of the history textbook from schools, Andreasyan expressed that she welcomes this move as we live in a legal state. However, she also found it difficult to understand how the court would rule on whether Movses Khorenatsi used myths in the "Armenian History" textbook or not.