In his opening remarks at the start of the cabinet meeting yesterday, 28 August 2008, Prime Minister Mr. Tigran Sargsian had few words on the education sector. This was in anticipation of this Monday, 1 September, the first day of the academic year in Armenia.
Both President Serge Sargsian and the Prime Minister have made numerous gestures to show (or pretend) their commitment to the education sector in recent months (giving awards, making speeches, etc.). Despite the fact that all these have been purely symbolic acts and, so far, no real policy in favor of education has been announced or implemented, I find these gestures rather positive.
Curiously, most of these go nearly unnoticed in the media (both the pro-governmental and the oppositionist press). I could find the PM’s yesterday remarks only in Azg newspaper in Armenian and had to translate it myself:
Both President Serge Sargsian and the Prime Minister have made numerous gestures to show (or pretend) their commitment to the education sector in recent months (giving awards, making speeches, etc.). Despite the fact that all these have been purely symbolic acts and, so far, no real policy in favor of education has been announced or implemented, I find these gestures rather positive.
Curiously, most of these go nearly unnoticed in the media (both the pro-governmental and the oppositionist press). I could find the PM’s yesterday remarks only in Azg newspaper in Armenian and had to translate it myself:
We have a good tradition according to which ministers and heads of different administrations visit schools on the first day of September. I would like to ask you that this tradition be maintained (respected).
This is a good occasion to mention some of the problems that our education system currently faces. It is not a secret that our [country’s] number one resource is our intellectual capacity. And we must do everything to ensure that our education system serves this [intellectual capacity].
It is curious that we don’t feel that the society values knowledge, and [I think] there is a lot in this respect that depends on us [the authorities]. Today, not studying must be considered as a behavior similar to an act of national treason because without learning we spoil the potential of our nation and we endanger its future. This approach must become ingrained at the [primary] school. And teachers must carry this mission. We pay teachers high salaries and must in return be strict in terms of our expectations. The Ministry of Education and Science must truly raise its expectations from teachers, as well as from university instructors.
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