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The NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport debated the draft law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Public Education at the extraordinary sitting on June 26.

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan stated that after being debated and adopted in the first reading, some clarifications were made in the draft, which do not change the essence of the draft. The proposals were presented by the Chair of the Committee Sisak Gabrielyan.

The co-rapporteur Taguhi Ghazaryan clarified that the draft refers to more than 1.300 teachers with secondary professional education who are currently working in schools.

The Chair of the Committee Sisak Gabrielyan touched upon the viewpoints expressed at the NA sitting that it is possible for teachers to be deprived of their jobs. The Chair of the Committee stated that with this draft, the Ministry gives another opportunity to teachers without higher education, because, if this initiative were not there, teachers with secondary professional education would automatically be unemployed from August 20, as defined by the current law. Sisak Gabrielyan urged the teachers to take advantage of the given opportunity.

It should be mentioned that 12 years ago, according to the law on Public Education, the state established a requirement for teachers to have a mandatory higher education. A certain period of time was given to get higher education, and many teachers took advantage of that opportunity. However, studies have shown that more than 1.300 teachers did not receive higher education, and today they teach in schools with secondary professional education.

The draft proposes to give those teachers an opportunity so that they can also take part in the voluntary certification process. If, as a result of the voluntary certification, the given teacher scores 60% or more, they will be given the opportunity to continue teaching.

The Committee endorsed the draft.