In accordance with the information circulated in the
press and the applications and complaints received by citizens, in at the
beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, some textbooks were not provided to the
students in the public schools, and a discussion procedure was started on the
initiative of Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan.
The Human Rights Defender’s office also received
applications and complaints from citizens that they were suggested either to
copy or purchase some textbooks from bookstores. This issue is particularly
concerning in regional settlements due to the challenges associated with
copying and accessing electronic educational materials.
In order to get clarifications regarding the
abovementioned, the Defender immediately sent a letter to the Ministry of
Education, Science, Culture and Sports. It is essential to note that the
problems related to textbooks in the education process may directly affect the
complete realization of the constitutionally guaranteed right to education.
The Defender emphasizes that the organization of the
educational process using electronic textbooks in public schools should not
only align with the commitment to provide access to education on the basis of
equal opportunities, as guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child, but also prioritize the preservation of children's health and their
normal development, in accordance with the principles of the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child. This includes adhering to specific quality standards
for digital textbooks and supporting digital learning materials as approved by
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The Defender emphasizes the provision of all printed
educational textbooks in the public schools operating throughout the territory
of the Republic of Armenia within the specified period, as well as the
compliance of electronic textbooks with international standards and
guaranteeing the available opportunities to use them.
The mentioned issue is under the immediate attention of
the Defender.
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