The Education System is Responsible for the Development of Civil Society

On March 1^st PAARA offered a month long university course entitled “Engaged Citizen”.  The course currently taking place with a joint initiative of PAARA, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Armenian Office of the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES). In his opening remarks, Khachatur Ghazeyan, the rector of PAARA, stressed the importance of the development and implementation of the civic education course.    Rector said. “I think  civil society can be the additional facility for Armenian education system to have innovative opportunities. The Academy has begun a radical transformation process in the education system.”              

Aghasi Ysayan, head of Civic Education Program presented the former work of the program, the role (function) of the program in preservation of democracy  and development of civic education. He said, “The establishment and development of civil society can not be done without control. The education system is resposible for the establishment of civil society, and first of all must instill the idea of building a civil society, and then give citizens necessary knowledge and skills for it.”                                                      

Gayane Hovhannisyan, head of the Centre of Quality Assurance, assured that by taking the “Engaged Citizens” course, the students will get a better understanding of the democratic citizenship, governance systems, civic participation, human rights and gain skills to apply it in practice.                                       

Armen Ezekyan, head of the Chair of Law, introduced the paticipants on how to work with citizens through interactive trainings, how to  reinforce their knowledge of democratic governance and human rights.

Participants had an opportunity to tour the gallary, where images were depicted the principles of democracy. 

The textbooks have been provided to the participants and they will earn a certificate upon successfull completing the course.