Universities will be given autonomy to decide mandatory curriculum, ministry says on amendment bill

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has released an explanation regarding the bill on amending the law on Higher Education and Science, which has sparked a students strike today at the YSU.

It said despite the bill envisaging the removal of the Armenian Language, Armenian Literature and Armenian History subjects from the mandatory curriculum, still each university will be entitled to make these subjects mandatory.

The ministry said the universities themselves have not expressed comments or proposals regarding this variant of the bill, moreover “wide autonomy is given to universities under this bill to decide the content of educational and academic programs”. “Therefore after the passage of the bill every university’s academic board can decide that these subjects should mandatorily be taught in all faculties”.

At the same time, the ministry said that this variant of the bill clearly stipulates “ the priority of Armenian Studies, training of experts for the development of Armenian Studies for the Diaspora and promotion of Armenian Cultural Legacy recognition” and rooting of national identity and universal values.

The bill also envisages base funding for universities for preservation and development of academic infrastructures which are of national value.

“Moreover, in order to be accepted to any university in Armenia, Armenian nationals – regardless of selected profession – are obliged to pass a single examination of Armenian language”.

The ministry said the bill not only does not reduce the role of Armenian and Armenian studies, but on the contrary “stipulates the sowing of these important values and training of respective specialists”.