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Alma Mater concerns: Students campaign against reducing positions

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  • Alma Mater concerns: Students campaign against reducing positions

    Alma Mater concerns: Students start campaign against reducing
    post-graduate positions

    Education | 29.04.10 | 16:26

    Students protest against new governmental decision

    By Karine Ionesyan
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    A decision by the Government of Armenia to reduce the number of
    openings for post-graduate study has drawn protest from a small
    contingent of students who hope their numbers will grow.


    On March 18, the Government ruled to decrease the number of
    post-graduation positions from about 230, to 122.
    The move is seen by opposing students as a way to force more young men
    into the army.

    Until now, any male of military-age (18-27), was deferred from service
    if he was engaged in post-graduate study.

    Six years ago, legislators wanted to do away with deferment entirely,
    but were met with such backlash that no amendment to that effect was
    passed.

    `They decided to settle the problem another way - to make a decision
    which will simple reduce the number of those [deferment] places,' says
    Daniel Ioannisyan, who is in his first year of Master Degree study at
    Yerevan State University.

    Today (April 29), Ioannisyan had organized a picket of the Government
    building, however few attended - due, in part to rainy weather, but
    more so he claims because Yerevan State students were pressured by the
    faculty to not attend.

    Aram Simonyan, Rector of YSU, told ArmeniaNow that no pressure was
    applied, but that the policy of the university is to oppose
    anti-establishment discontent.

    The Student Council of the YSU does not support protesting students
    either. Tsolak Hakobyan, Chairman of the Student Council, believes
    that only a few dozen youngsters are interested in the struggle, and
    they are simply trying to evade compulsory military service.

    Ioannisyan says instead of organizing another picket, he will launch a
    signature-collection drive on May 3.
    A week ago only the students of the Faculty of Physics at Yerevan
    State organized such a picket. The same day, Ministry of Science and
    Education of Armenia Armen Ashotyan, received them, and as a result,
    it was decided not to reduce the post-graduate studentship places at
    the Faculty of Physics, keeping the number of the previous year, at
    15.
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