Rights of Children Enrolled in 2nd Grade at Once Have Been Violated: Human Rights Defender

The Human Rights Defender has issued a decision regarding the violation of the rights of children admitted to the second grade in the 2025-2026 academic year immediately in accordance with their age group. Numerous complaints have been addressed to the Human Rights Defender concerning the alleged violations of the rights of this group of children.

Defender Anahit Manasyan noted problems in ensuring the rights of children enrolled in the second grade at once, particularly regarding the child's right to education, rest, and leisure, as well as the guarantee of the child's best interests. Issues have also been identified from the perspective of the skills and abilities of specialists working with children and the methodologies applied during their work with children.

The Human Rights Defender's decision states that many of these children have not attended preschool educational institutions. Results from ongoing monitoring conducted within the Defender’s office show that in several communities across the provinces of the Republic of Armenia, there are either no preschool educational institutions or their number is insufficient. There are also various other issues in this area that the Defender regularly addresses.

It should be noted that according to international standards, guaranteeing preschool education is a state obligation. The essential skills developed during preschool education, particularly social, communication, and age-appropriate cognitive skills, prepare a child for school life. Therefore, in the context of the absence of preschool education or existing issues in this sector, which the Defender considers unacceptable, such education must be guaranteed at least through elementary education.

Additionally, the Human Rights Defender's decision indicated that children immediately enrolled in the 2nd grade face difficulties in mastering the educational materials prescribed by the curricula for the 1st and 2nd grades. Specifically, since children studying in the 2nd grade have not attended the 1st grade, the study of 1st-grade educational materials is conducted alongside the 2nd-grade materials. Consequently, in order to fully grasp the materials, children attend long-day groups and extra classes, which often deprives them of opportunities for play, rest, and adequate leisure appropriate for their age and development.

The Defender also observed that some children have developed psychological problems, with many frequently claiming that they cannot accomplish their assigned tasks. Applications and complaints directed to the Human Rights Defender, as well as calls received on the hotline, along with visits to general educational institutions, have also shown that children immediately enrolled in the 2nd grade experience feelings of fear, anxiety, distrust in their abilities, crying, and emotional tension manifesting during the process of mastering educational materials and completing tasks.

Research results also revealed that students have difficulties interacting with their classmates; children feel isolated from others, as many cannot write and calculate like their peers. Moreover, the study of additional educational materials planned for them is conducted within very tight deadlines, and the children do not always manage to grasp them.

Regarding the above, the Human Rights Defender highlighted in her decision that the state has not guaranteed, in accordance with international standards, the right of children immediately enrolled in the 2nd grade who correspond to their age group to be free from psychological, social, cognitive, and other difficulties, nor has it ensured that the beginning of their educational path is harmonious with the child's actual abilities and psychological readiness. As a result, the rights of the child to rest and leisure, participation in age-appropriate play, and to ensure the best interests of the child have been violated.

Based on the above, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia take measures to address the positions stated in the Defender's decision, improve the legislative framework, and practically establish a tolerant educational environment for children that is free from psychological, social, cognitive, and other difficulties during the process of inclusion in general education. This includes ensuring the rights to preschool education, rest, and leisure, as well as guaranteeing the proper training of specialists working with children.

The Defender has also suggested that the Ministry demonstrate an individualized approach in aligning the organization of the right to education of each child enrolled in the 2nd grade immediately with their age group with the best interests of the child.

Once again, the Defender emphasizes that education should be child-centered and aim not only to impart knowledge but also to strengthen a child's capabilities, develop a sense of dignity, and boost their self-confidence. At the same time, the Human Rights Defender values the ongoing work directed at reforming the education sector by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the constructive cooperation established with the Ministry, including towards resolving the mentioned issues.