VIDEO: "The school is collapsing, teachers are leaving" - Parents of students at Yerevan's Number 130 School hold protest

Parents of students at the Nairi Zaryan Number 130 primary school in Yerevan are holding a protest. They are concerned that the newly appointed principal has dismissed several highly qualified teachers.

One of the school teachers stated in an interview with reporters, "Since the new principal arrived, the experienced professionals and good educators have submitted their resignations and left, while unqualified individuals have been hired to take their places. This is being done by publishing pro-Turkish textbooks. During these two years, our new principal has dismissed all the good specialists and educators due to personal whims. Everyone applied for resignation and left. Now I don't know what's happening; there is no specialist, there is no Russian language teacher, the books have pro-Turkish intentions, the publishers are Turkish, and the rest are Azerbaijanis. They want to teach sexual education from the 5th grade," he said.

Arthur Khachatryan, a member of the “Armenia” parliamentary faction, noted that his two children study at this school, in the 2nd and 6th grades respectively. "Unfortunately, I have to state that over the last two years, the school has deteriorated. A school is not only an institution that imparts knowledge but also one that cultivates values and fosters patriotism. When the new principal came, on September 1, 2021, the flag of Artsakh was removed from the school. Materials depicting the heroic episodes of the Artsakh war have been taken down. Teachers at the school are leaving. I don’t remember how many math teachers my child has changed throughout the year. Now there are alarming reports that three deputy principals, including the teacher of one of my children, have submitted their resignations and are leaving. If knowledgeable and caring educators are departing, why should I bring my child to this school? The school is collapsing. This example highlights what is happening within the education system," Khachatryan said.