YEREVAN. – Members of the “For National Education” initiative from the students of the Yerevan State University (YSU) Faculty of Armenian Philology, who are protesting against the Higher Education and Science Bill and yesterday have resumed their boycotting of classes, today gathered outside the office of YSU Acting Rector Gegham Gevorgyan.

They had announced yesterday that they would stage a sit-in during the working hours in the area until Gevorgyan receives them. The reason is their letter to the acting rector, whose response was not to their satisfaction. In the letter, they requested Gevorgyan to convene a meeting of the YSU Academic Council to discuss not only the new bill's proposal to make subjects "Armenian Language", "Armenian Literature" and "Armenian History" optional in non-specialized faculties of Armenia’s universities, but also Education, Science, Culture and Sport Minister Arayik Harutyunyan behavior during his meeting with the lecturers. The acting rector said in a reply letter that the teaching staff’s objections to the controversial draft law had been sent to the ministry, whereas regarding the second point said that they had no such power.

The aforesaid students have resumed their boycotting of classes, but not everyone is taking part. There are classes at the Faculty of Armenian Philology, albeit in half-empty classrooms. The students who are participating in the boycotting of classes have received absences throughout the course.

These students had boycotted classes also from November 6 to 20, expressing their disagreement with the new bill's proposal to make subjects "Armenian Language", "Armenian Literature" and "Armenian History" optional in non-specialized faculties of Armenia’s universities.

Their protest was joined by lecturers from the YSU chairs of Armenian Language and History who had announced a one-day symbolic strike in support of the students. The lecturers then met with Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan and expressed their grievances.

Students were angered, according to them, with the minister’s disrespectful demeanor toward the lecturers at the meeting.

The aforesaid controversial bill is currently being debated on as a working draft.