Deputies against patronage in schools

During the announcements made in the RA National Assembly today, two deputies, Ani Samsonyan and Sofya Hovsepyan, referred to the issue of sponsorship in appointing school principals.

In particular, the deputy of the “Bright Armenia” faction Ani Samsonyan spoke about the disruption of the lesson process of school No. 1 in Abovyan. According to her, a competition for the vacant position of school principal took place on January 22, the two candidates received 4 equal votes each, and the decision on the appointment was left to the Minister of Education and Science.

The member of the “Bright Armenia” faction noted that the government’s announcements about the reforms did not bring any results, as a result of which they continue to see patronage when electing councils and directors. According to the MP, sponsorship is “a kind of corruption” and officials should refrain from it.

MP Sofya Hovsepyan also referred to the protests taking place in Gyumri School No. 25 against the “undesirable” principal. It should be reminded that both the school staff and the parents accuse Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan of appointing a principal under his auspices. The new director is Irina Baghdasaryan, the sister of Gegham Baghdasaryan, the head of the legal department of the Shirak regional administration.

Sofya Hovsepyan, referring to the situation in the school, said that the NSS has started to perform a new function, that is, to intimidate teachers, parents who do not take their children to school. The deputy noted that, unfortunately, even today school appointments are made by political order or political views, as it was before.

Full text in Armenian