Unsuccessful Dialogue with the RA Ministry of Education

In November 8, 2011 Armenian Caritas BNGO organized a press conference at Journalist’s Club “Asparez” in regards of disagreements with the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the letter forwarded to RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

The problem arose 5 months ago when the Ministry of Education and Science of RA dissolved the Agronomic Academy’s pivot Gymnasium in Akhurian which was reconstructed in the frames of “German Friendship” project sponsored by Kardinal Frings Gymnasium of Bonn, Germany. Armenian Caritas tried to meet with the Minister of Education and Science repeatedly to get some clarifications, but all the efforts were in vain. The meeting did not take place because of a number of reasons: “the Minister is busy”, “he is out”, “come another time” and so on. Kardinal Frings Gymnasium of Bonn, Germany had to quit the projects in Armenia due to the indifferent attitude of the Ministry of Education and Science. The benefactor refuses to sponsor any charity project in Armenia considering inacceptable the fact that the state has no relevant attitude towards the organizations, which, in essence, support the solution of problems related to state care.

The representatives of Armenian Caritas mentioned that they are upset not by the fact that dissolution of school was done without informing the organization, but by the fact that during these 5 months the dialogue with the Ministry did not take place.The representatives are convinced that in case of objective explanations the benefactor might have understood the situation and avoided making sharp decisions by depriving numerous children from the opportunity of getting education in good conditions and poor families from humanitarian aid.

To the journalists’ question, what steps will be taken by the organization in case of insufficient response by the Prime Minister, the executive president of the organization Anahit Mkhoyan answered: “We will try also to forward a letter to the President Serzh Sargsyan… and if it won’t help then we’ll make appropriate conclusions and quit implementing charitable projects in such spheres where the funds obtained are endangered to serve the foreseen goal”.

It’s worth mentioning that the Gymnasium is implementing charity projects in Armenia since 2003 and up to now 23 urban and rural schools’ educational conditions were improved (reconstruction and/or inventory provision) by supporting over 5000 pupils, providing school supplies to 500 children and providing humanitarian aid to 152 extremely deprived families. Donations are raised by the students, parents and teachers of gymnasium at annual running marathon. “We are responsible in front of each German student, who were convinced that they were helping their Armenian fellows by taking part in the annual marathon and making donations”, – mentioned the project manager Anahit Gevorgyan during the conference.

Kardinal Frings Gymnasium of Bonn, Germany which has implemented projects of about 150 thousand Euros in Armenia has now on decided to implement charity projects in India instead of Armenia. Armenian Caritas fears that in case of leaving the precedent without response; the rating of Armenia will suffer serious damage among international organizations by resulting in the reduction of international charity projects,serving as a source of survival to Armenian population.

The press conference coverage can be found here (in Armenian):

“Armenian Caritas” Gyumri office going to address a letter to Serzh Sargsyan

“Armenian Caritas” vs. Ministry of Education

RA Ministry of Science and Education ‘juggles’ “Armenian Caritas”

MSE dissolved pivot Gymnasium of Akhuryan Agronomic Academy

Charitable projects are terminated, and the ministry of science and education is silent