Recommendations on Citizenship Education in Armenia
Current Situation
Legal Frame - The RA Law on General Education, ratified in 2009 emphasizes this
major goal of general education.
The new law states that “within the sphere of general
education the State shall guarantee the provision of the following principles: the charitable nature
of general education; the prioritization of national and universal values, human life and health,
an individual’s free and comprehensive development; promotion of civil conscience; respect for
the individual and his/her rights and freedoms; dignity, patriotism, diligence, responsibility,
tolerance, formation of environmental attitudes”. Thus, The RA Law on General Education
explicitly advocates education of free, informed and independent individuals, who practice and
respect democratic principles. This is the overall goal of citizenship education in Armenia
Topics, Actors, Trends
The following courses which contribute to the instruction of citizenship education are
delivered at Armenian schools:
•
Me and My Surrounding (2 – 4th grades, Elementary School)
•
Armenian Studies (5th grade, Middle School)
•
Basics of Social Studies (8 -12th grades, Middle School and High School). The course is
interdisciplinary and
integrates topics regarding Human Rights, Political Science,
Government, Ethics, Esthetics.
Challenges
Among the challenges of delivering citizenship education in Armenia, these are the most
prominent ones:
1. More theoretical rather than practical and skills-oriented approach
2. Lack or scarce use of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in the
teaching and learning process
3. Poor collaboration with educational organizations and the non-governmental sector
4. Teacher-centered approach, archaic teaching methodology
Recommendations
1. To combine theoretical assignments with practical ones
2. to enable the students to implement community learning projects, search and find
community actual problems proposing sound solutions to those identified problems
1 3. to develop the analytical and critical skills of the students for them to be able to for
realize personal responsibility as a citizen
4. to enhance active collaboration of the school and university administration with the
civil society representatives, educational organizations and NGOs.
5. to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the teaching and
learning process
6. to develop co-teaching practices with the participation of a trainer from an NGO and
an academic-oriented specialist
7. to organize teacher training courses and qualification raising seminars for civic
educators
8. to promote strong momentum for change from the ‘bottom’
Links
1.
Poghosyan T., Sargsyan Ch., Education for Democratic Citizenship at the Secondary
Level in Armenia: the Current Practice, Challenges and Recommendations. Retrieved
from: http://www.jeffersoninst.org/sites/default/files/Armenia%20policy%20paper.pdf
2. Tovmasyan T., Thoma M. T., The Impact of Civic Education on Schools, Students and
Communities. Yerevan, 2008. Retrieved from:
http://www.crrc.am/hosting/file/_static_content/fellows/fellowship07/T%20Tovmasyan/
Tigran%20Tovmasyan%20_Report_draft.pdf
3. Gyulbudaghyan, A., Petrosyan, S., Tovmasyan, T., & Zohrabyan, A. (2007). Social
Studies standards and program. Yerevan, Armenia, National Institute of Education.
2