Principals have no right to demand money

For several days following the September 1 Day of Knowledge, the offices of panorama.am have been receiving calls in which parents were expressing their dissatisfaction with the fact that teachers were separating their English and Russian classes into two groups depending on “parents’ donations.” The thing is that for best results, small group teaching is preferred. This is a proven fact. But parents report that for this purpose the students are required to pay 500 dram per month. And, the Russian and English classes are being conducted with entire classrooms of 35 students.

To clarify these reports, panorma.am journalists visited Sylva Achoyan of the city hall education department.

Achoyan reported that the school principals are allowed, according to the current education plan, to decide whether or not to divide their classes into two groups.

Achoyan added that principals decide on dividing the classes into groups or not depending on funds available to pay teachers. She says that if the principal divides the class and then demands money from pupils, it is a criminally punishable offense.

Achoyan states that a teacher has the right to ask for money from a pupil only if teaching takes place outside of regular class hours.

According to what we found out, the news about demanding money from pupils was a surprise for Achoyan and her staff, and that such a thing couldn’t be taking place. For the proper teaching of languages, in small groups, to take place, must a parent lighten his pocketbook?