The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia will conduct an investigation into registered cases of schools participating in election campaigning in Aragatsotn Province.

The respective statement released by the ministry says that since the start of the campaign for the Armenian National Assembly elections, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia has been receiving reports regarding school teachers, staff, and students participating in campaigning during working hours and during classes, in connection with the violation of the ban on campaigning in educational institutions.

One such case was registered Wednesday in Aparan city. A number of teachers and students of schools in the villages of Aragats and Kuchak had participated in a political campaign during working hours. The ministry will initiate a separate investigation to ascertain the details of this case and apply the consequences prescribed by law, jointly with the relevant authorized body.

Also, the ministry sends all reports to law enforcement agencies in accordance with the appropriate procedure for investigation.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia added that it attaches importance to the depoliticized activities of educational institutions in the country and reaffirms that educational institutions must operate free from political processes, ensure an impartial and neutral environment for education, such cases are under strict surveillance, and any such manifestation will be subject to appropriate response and legal consequences.

As reported earlier, teachers and students from several schools in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province on Wednesday were brought by buses to the election campaign of the ruling Civil Contract party in Aparan city—moreover, during class hours. One of these teachers had told Armenian News-NEWS.am that classes were shortened for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1035034