PM Pashinyan Fires Two Officials Following Disappointing School Inspections
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to schools in Lori Province on Wednesday has ignited a wave of actions within the government after he expressed great dissatisfaction with what he discovered during his inspection. The Prime Minister's disappointment led to the termination of high-ranking officials and an urge to address issues affecting various state-funded programs.
During today’s government session, Pashinyan addressed his concerns during his visit to Lori schools. "We are facing significant design and implementation flaws in our programs, particularly in schools," Pashinyan said. He highlighted multiple deficiencies, ranging from faulty equipment installations to quality defects in properties intended for educational use.
"One glaring example," Pashinyan expressed, "is the installation of basketball backboards that do not meet the standard. Merely hanging a hoop doesn't define it as a basketball backboard." He pointed out that several thousand drams were spent on unauthorized modifications, questioning the accountability and quality control of the implementation process.
The Prime Minister also mentioned instances where allocated property, such as volleyball nets and football goals, were installed incorrectly, leaving them impractical for their intended use. He emphasized the need for meticulousness in state-funded projects, especially within educational institutions.
Pashinyan's frustration extended to issues with essential facilities. "Even in simple structures like walls, we found hazards endangering children's safety. Dripping water fixtures, unsafe equipment – these are simply unacceptable in our schools," he criticized.
Moreover, he expressed disbelief at fundamental oversights, such as the installation of transparent glass in the toilet facilities. "Do you need special knowledge to realize that privacy should be maintained in such areas?" Pashinyan rhetorically questioned, highlighting a lack of attention to basic considerations.
The Prime Minister declared his strong stance, "I will not compromise on these matters. Consequences will follow for those failing in their duties."
As a result of these findings, Prime Minister Pashinyan took decisive action, relieving Armen Ghularyan, Chairman of the Urban Development Committee, and Aram Khachatryan, the Governor of Lori Province, from their positions. This abrupt decision came in the wake of mounting dissatisfaction over systemic failures observed during various government-funded projects.
Meanwhile, reactions from political figures have begun to surface. Vahe Dokhoyan, the leader of the "Homeland" faction of the Vanadzor community, has called for discussions among faction leaders, demanding new elections in the wake of the governor's dismissal. This move has prompted speculation about potential political ramifications within the region. “I do not believe at all that Nikol Pashinyan really fired the governor due to shortcomings, because that governor has failed in all matters since the day of his appointment,” Dokhoyan concluded.
