Teachers hand ultimatum to minister and demand meeting with him

Education employees are staging a protest against the compulsory accumulative pension system outside Armenian Ministry of Education and Science. They threaten to go on strike if their demands are not met.

The demonstrators want to meet with Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotian to tell him about their demands. They are joined by members of ‘I am against’ civil movement.

A ministry representative, Arthur Baghdasarian, met with protesters earlier today. He proposed that a group of teachers should go up to his office, but protesters said they demand a meeting with Education Minister Armen Ashotian.

“They kept us waiting here and gave no answer. I propose handing him an ultimatum and waiting for a written answer,” a participant said.

The ministry representative later again met with the protesters. He promised to give the ultimatum to the minister, noting that Armen Ashotian’s offer remains open. “Ashotian is always ready to receive teachers and discuss any problem,” Baghdasarian said. In his words, he informed Ashotian about teachers’ demand.

The demonstrators called upon all teachers to join the protest. “Our demand remains the same. Ashotian must meet with us,” they said.