The Human
Rights Defender has adopted a decision finding a violation of rights in
connection with the protection of the rights of children admitted directly to
the 2nd grade, corresponding to their age group, within the general education
system during the 2025–2026 academic year.
Numerous
applications-complaints have been addressed to the Human Rights Defender
regarding alleged violations of the rights of the mentioned group of children.
In
her decision, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit
Manasyan recorded problems related to the protection of the rights of children
admitted directly in the 2nd grade, in particular, the child’s right to
education, rest and leisure, and the guarantee of the best interests of the
child. Problems were also recorded from the perspective of the skills and
capacities of professionals working with children, as well as the methodologies
used in the course of working with children.
The
Human Rights Defender’s decision recorded that many of the children did not
attend a preschool educational institution.
The
results of the monitoring conducted by the Human Rights Defender's Office
indicate that in a number of settlements in the provinces of the Republic of
Armenia, preschool educational institutions are entirely absent or insufficient
in number. There are also a number of problems in this field, which the
Defender regularly referred.
It
should be taken into account that, according to international standards,
ensuring access to preschool education is a state obligation. The fundamental
skills developed during preschool education—particularly social, communication,
organization of the educational process and age-appropriate cognitive
skills—ensure a child’s preparedness for school life. Therefore, in the absence
of preschool education or in the presence of problems in this sector, which the
Human Rights Defender considers unacceptable, such preparedness must be ensured
at least through primary education.
In
addition, the Human Rights Defender's decision recorded that children
admitted directly to the 2nd grade of general education have difficulties in
mastering the educational material provided for in the educational programs of
the first and second grades. In particular, since children admitted in the 2nd
grade did not attend the 1st grade, the study of the 1st grade educational
material is studied in parallel with the 2nd grade educational material, and in
order to fully master it, children visit long-day groups and attend additional
courses, as a result of which they are often deprived of the opportunity for
play, rest and full-fledged entertainment appropriate to their age and
development.
The
Defender’s decision also recorded that psychological difficulties have emerged
among some children, many of whom have repeatedly expressed feelings of failure
and an inability to complete assigned tasks.
The
examination of applications and complaints addressed to the Human Rights
Defender, calls received through the hotline, as well as the results of visits
to general education institutions have shown that children admitted directly to
the 2nd grade experience fear, anxiety, lack of self-confidence, crying, and
emotional tension, which manifest during the learning process and while
completing assignments. The results of the study also showed that students have
problems communicating with classmates, children feel isolated from others,
since many of them cannot write and count like their classmates, and the study
of additional educational material intended for them is conducted in a very
short period of time, and children do not always manage to master it.
In
connection with the above, the Human Rights Defender noted in her decision that
the state, in accordance with international standards, did not guarantee the
right of children admitted directly to the 2nd grade corresponding to their age
group to be free from psychological, social, cognitive and other difficulties,
the harmony of the beginning of the educational pathway with the child’s real
abilities and psychological preparedness. Consequently, the child’s right to
rest and leisure, to participate in age-appropriate play, as well as the
requirement to ensure the best interests of the child, have been violated.
Taking
into account the above, the Human Rights Defender, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, proposed
to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of
Armenia to take measures, taking into consideration the positions recorded in
the Human Rights Defender’s decision, to improve the legislative framework and,
in practice, ensure an educational environment free from psychological, social,
cognitive, and other difficulties for children during the process of inclusion
in the general education system, as well as to guarantee the rights to
preschool education, rest, and leisure, and the proper training of
professionals working with children.
The
Human Rights Defender also recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science,
Culture and Sports apply an individualized approach to organizing the
realization of the right to education of each child admitted directly to the
2nd grade in accordance with their age group, ensuring that this process is
aligned with the best interests of the child.
The
Human Rights Defender once again reaffirms that education should be
child-centered and aim not only to transfer knowledge, but also to equip
children with essential life skills, strengthen their abilities, and foster a
sense of dignity and self-confidence.
At
the same time, the Human Rights Defender emphasizes the ongoing reform efforts
undertaken by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the
Republic of Armenia, as well as the constructive cooperation established with
the Ministry, including initiatives aimed at addressing the aforementioned
issues.
Հայերեն
