Epress.am News from Armenia
Narek Margaryan, a lecturer at the Yerevan State Linguistic University named after V. Brusov (YSLU) who was fired for tardiness and absenteeism, finds that though there were lawful grounds for dismissing him, he was treated unjustly as there are lecturers in Brusov who commit much graver mistakes. A demonstration called “Solidarity Event” initiated by Margaryan took place at Yerevan’s Liberty Square at 1 pm today.
“We all realize that I’m not the only lecturer at Brusov who was late three times in a semester; we all realize that many, many lecturers were tardy and many violations take place, but they’ve focused [their attention] on me,” he said, speaking to the press today.
Margaryan described how during his years as a student at YSLU there were lecturers who he saw only once on the first day or only on the day of exams, but since they were the wives of other lecturers it wasn’t considered a violation of order.
“If we begin to reckon, then we should begin by letting go those who commit graver violations, then those who can’t utter two sentences in English without [making] mistakes and then they’ll get to Margaryan,” he said.
Margaryan also shared with the press what the Dean of the Faculty of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication Harutyun Tshantshapanyan told him after he was fired: “After I left, our Dean Tshantshapanyan said that law and order is beginning to be established in the country. I would personally squeeze his hand if I was sure that with my leaving law and order was finally established in the Republic of Armenia.”
Asked by Epress.am, whether he’d like to return to the university if given the chance, Margaryan said he wouldn’t want to work there.
“One of the main problems is that the involvement of young faculty is not encouraged; class schedules are compiled 180 degrees contrary to the lecturer’s request,” he said.
The young lecturer noted that, in legal terms, staff presented false information to the rector. Margaryan says he was late by 5 minutes, whereas staff claimed he was late by 27 minutes.
Margaryan said that though he doesn’t want to make irresponsible statements tied to the reasons for his dismissal, he finds that it might be tied to his involvement in the satirical news site the Armcomedy News Network.
Asked by Epress.am about his next steps, Margaryan said he has no other plans as a lecturer, but he has ideas for initiatives which aim to raise the issue of problems in Armenia’s educational system and if he receives invitations to participate in discussions, he will participate.