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The National Assembly debated the draft law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on Military Service and the Status of Servicemen at May 23 sitting in the first reading, the adoption of which stems from the necessity to regulate the grounds for granting deferment to students with primary or secondary professional education programmes without interruption on the basis of general education as well as basic education in the Republic of Armenia or in foreign countries.

The proposed amendment aims to enable those students who are taught in the Republic of Armenia or in foreign countries on the basis of general education, as well as basic education without interruption in primary or secondary professional educational programmes, and who have been deferred due to health or family conditions, to have the opportunity of education to get a deferral and finish the studies on the same basis.

“With this regulation, we make it clear that the deferment is granted in case of any basis, and this will make the life of many people who have such a problem much easier,” the key rapporteur, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan explained.

The deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction Arman Yeghoyan inquired about the regulations regarding the entrance exams from the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport. The deputy asked if it is true that some of the male applicants are not able to enter the university and then go to the mandatory military service, because the entrance exams are often later than the days of conscription. “There shouldn’t be such a problem, because we are clearly debating the schedule of the joint exams and the conscription. This is not new, it is a practice that is used every year. The joint examinations take place in the period when the conscription is not yet over. In parallel, during the entrance exams, we also launch joint programmes with the Ministry of Defense I Have the Honor and others,” Zhanna Andreasyan said. The Minister noted that if there is a clear problem, they can study and respond to it. The deputy also inquired about another issue regarding university entrance exams, related to online application. Zhanna Andreasyan explained that this order has been in effect since 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic was widespread. According to her, enough time was given for people to be able to complete the electronic application, but some citizens simply leave everything for the last moment and are late for the application.

To the question of the NA deputy of the Civil Contract Faction Lilit Stepanyan whether this regulation will be extended to the RA citizens studying in Armenian schools in other countries, the Minister answered that the regulations proposed by the draft will apply to both the RA citizens studying in Armenia as well as in foreign countries. The amendment will not apply to university students.

The NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport endorsed the draft.

The debate of the draft will be carried out according to a special procedure. After the first reading, the draft will be debated in the second reading within twenty-four hours.