Foreign-language school bill

[KanadaHye]

PARLIAMENT PANEL BACKS FOREIGN-LANGUAGE SCHOOL BILL

A standing committee of the Armenian parliament approved on Friday a watered-down version of a controversial government bill that would allow the existence of schools where the main language of instruction is not Armenian.

The move, backed only by committee members representing President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK), paves the way for its adoption, in the first reading, by the full National Assembly next week.


The Armenian government has faced a storm of criticism from opposition politicians, media and public figures, including those loyal to the Sarkisian administration, ever since it drafted relevant amendments to Armenia’s laws on education and language in late April.


They believe the proposed changes endangers Armenian’s constitutional status as the country’s sole official language. The critics include virtually all members of the presidential Public Council, a panel of prominent political and public figures making policy recommendations to Sarkisian.


The uproar forced the government to make significant changes in the bill late last month. It now makes clear that foreign-language schools can only be private and above the elementary level. It also stipulates that there can be no more than 15 such schools across the country. In addition, they would be required to teach one-third of their subjects in Armenian.


These changes failed to satisfy its opponents both inside and outside the parliament. The parliament committee on science and education endorsed the bill after a four-hour heated discussion that mainly featured negative evaluations. The committee’s Republican chairman, Artak Davtian, said it might be watered down further before being passed in the final reading.


“The draft law will be acceptable to us if foreign-language teaching is allowed only in high schools,” said Naira Zohrabian of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), a junior partner in the governing coalition.


Representatives of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and the Zharangutyun Party rejected the bill in full. Dashnaktsutyun’s parliamentary leader, Vahan Hovannisian, at the same time berated those critics who compare the government measure to high treason and question the patriotism of Armenians educated in Russian-language schools during the Soviet era.


A broad-based coalition of Armenian intellectuals actively campaigning against the bill also remained dissatisfied. About a dozen of its members picketed the parliament building during the committee meeting with banners rejecting foreign-language schools and demanding Education Minister Armen Ashotian’s resignation.


The protesters included Ruben Tarumian, an architect who designed a popular Armenian-language computer font. “If well allow the opening of even one foreign-language school, there will be a chain reaction of second, third and fourth such schools coming into existence,” he told RFE/RL.


“We are going to fight to the end,” said Armen Hovannisian, another campaigner. “This variant also must not be adopted.”


Ashotian seemed untroubled by the protest as he made his way into the parliament compound. “We don’t see anything dangerous here and welcome such civic activism,” he said.


Speaking to RFE/RL after the committee meeting, Ashotian stood by the government line that foreign-language would help to boost educational standards that have declined since the Soviet collapse. He said the amendments would also allow renowned international schools to open branches in Armenia.

http://www.armtown.com/news/en/rfe/20100604/2062483/

I'm all for foreign languages being taught but they should be taught as a second language. I can see the advantage here that perhaps those in the diaspora with Armenian heritage may be able to attend a renowned schools in Armenia.

[Tigranakert]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

It's absurd to ban a foreign language school. Alright, they can limit it, but some foreign-language schools like the new http://dilijanschool.org/ Dilijian International School of Armenia would be of great benefit for Armenia. This school, where the main language will be English, will attract a lot of foreign Armenian (and non-Armenian) students, as everything Vardanian does turns into succes.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

It's absurd to ban a foreign language school. Alright, they can limit it, but some foreign-language schools like the new http://dilijanschool.org/ Dilijian International School of Armenia would be of great benefit for Armenia. This school, where the main language will be English, will attract a lot of foreign Armenian (and non-Armenian) students, as everything Vardanian does turns into succes.

It has positive and negative sides. Like you said, they have to limit it since the primary language of the country must be preserved and all public and private sectors should only communicate using Armenian as a first language.

[Davo88]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

The main language of Armenian schools should naturally remain Armenian. If these foreign language schools come into being, what kind of statement would they be sending to Armenians in the diaspora who spend a fortune to send their children to Armenian schools?

[Mos]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

students should have good command of not only Armenian but also English and Russian, more importantly these days English as this is the global language and pretty much any job these days even in Armenia requires some English, as it's a global economy now.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

Vahagn Khachatryan: bill on foreign language schools opening is a crime

PanARMENIAN.Net - Representative of the Armenian National Congress Vahagn Khachatryan labeled the bill envisaging establishment of foreign language schools as a crime.

“This has become a national issue, actually,” he said.

“If the authorities are really willing to improve the education system, it can be done easily: schools should have no linkage to politics,” he said.

Submission of the bill was an order from outside, which the authorities have to fulfill, according to him.

“I think no legislative changes are needed for opening foreign language schools. If we start amending a law, we will continue do so in the future,” Khachatryan concluded.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/socie...ing_is_a_crime

[KanadaHye]

Re: Foreign-language school bill

students should have good command of not only Armenian but also English and Russian, more importantly these days English as this is the global language and pretty much any job these days even in Armenia requires some English, as it's a global economy now.

English is global for now but many English speaking countries are offering courses in Mandarin since more and more businesses are concentrated in China. As globalization advances and the new world order develops, it will be more clear as to which languages someone needs to do business in the 21st century. As the above article states, it is being forced by outside influences and not within Armenia so it's apparent that there is a existential force behind this bill.