KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Organized by the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) and Caucasus University (Tbilisi), the two-day international scientific conference dedicated to the 200^th anniversary of the foundation of the Tbilisi Nersisyan School kicked off at the ASPU under the title “The Tbilisi Nersisyan School and its Role in Academic Life in the Caucasus”.

The aim of the event was to touch upon the history of Nersisyan School, the academic-cultural life of Tbilisi-Armenians and the Armenian-Georgian relations. Among the attendees were Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan; Georgia’s Envoy in the Republic of Armenia Giorgi Chkheidze; Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan, as well as representatives of educational institutions from Armenia, Hungary, Georgia and Russia.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan attached importance to the various events organized on the occasion of the 200^th anniversary of Nersisyan Spiritual School and, in this context, highlighted the importance of the scientific conference from the perspective of revitalizing the scientific and research component in universities. “I believe it is especially important that studies on education and examinational talks about education at the Armenian State Pedagogical University become an integral part of our routine. I strongly believe that we Armenians have a lot to learn through our education and from our own traditions and history. In this sense, these scientific conferences and the analytical and examinational views in the courses and educational programs for future pedagogues are mandatory for having education specialists and teachers who are ready to face today’s challenges,” Zhanna Andreasyan remarked and touched upon one of the students of Nersisyan School, that is, Ghazaros Aghayan, who is one of her relatives. “Ghazaros Aghayan’s criticism of modern schools is appropriate even today. He considered the relationship between school and life is problematic, meaning what is taught in school is refuted in life. We need to be more careful with the content presented in school, and, talking about educational reforms, we need to take a look at the history. In this regard, Nersisyan School has served as a major institution for Armenian pedagogy and the progressive ideas for application of educational methods.”

The Minister said what is also important is the fact that the Nersisyan Spiritual School is currently under the care of the Georgian government and remains an educational institution in the building which currently houses the Caucasus University.

ASPU Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan stated that the ASPU had to address this major event, the substantive component of which will be the several discussions and speeches. Gevorgyan touched upon the major significance of the institution established by spiritual leader of the Armenians in Georgia Nerses Ashtaraketsi and highlighted the institution’s unique place in global education.

Hovhannes Tumanyan, Ghazaros Aghayan, Pertch Proshyan, Khachatur Abovyan and others — Srbuhi Gevorgyan recalled that over 2,000 people have graduated from Nersisyan School throughout the century-old history and there has been a generation of highly valuable intellectuals. “Based in Georgia, the educational institution has truly made great contributions to the Armenian-Georgian relations, and this scientific conference serves as evidence of the development of those relations and the continuation of the best traditions. I fully hope that the students of the ASPU will also continue the best traditions of the Nersisyan School,” she said.

Let us remind that the events dedicated to the 200^th anniversary of Nersisyan Spiritual School kicked off in the beginning of this year with the opening of an exhibition in January at Caucasus University (Tbilisi Nersisyan Spiritual School) and later at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, showcasing the carbon copies of over 200 archival documents and photos. The originals of the documents and photos are stored in the National Archives of Armenia and Georgia, Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) in Yerevan, as well as a number of museums in Armenia and in the private collection of Levon Chidilyan.

As a matter of fact, Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan, upon the decision of the University’s Scientific Council, granted the title of “Honorable Doctor” of the ASPU to Georgian-Armenian figure, intellectual Levon Chidilyan.

In his remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, who was attending the event, highlighted the fact that the 200-year-old history of the Tbilisi Nersisyan Spiritual School truly serves as one of the remarkable episodes in the history of the friendship between the Armenian and Georgian peoples. The Ambassador noted that the great figures of the Armenian people, by living and working in Tbilisi, left an indelible trace in the histories of the Armenian and Georgian peoples and became the pride of both peoples.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia emphasized that even today, this wonderful institution, represented by Caucasus University, continues to serve its mission that it has served since its inception, that is, to be a unique hearth for education and enlightenment. “In terms of civilization, it serves as the evidence of the similar world views of the students of both nations on education and culture. What should also be mentioned is the fact that today this scientific conference is being held at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, and education and pedagogy lie at the core of the University,” Ashot Smbatyan remarked and wished that the Armenian State Pedagogical University continues to remain a ‘smithy’ for the preparation of teachers with the spirit of the Nersisyan Spiritual School, educating generations and opening new horizons for them.

Dean of the ASPU Faculty of History and Social Science Edgar Hovhannisyan notes that it was exactly these days 200 years ago when an educational institution, that is, the Nersisyan Spiritual School, was established in Tbilisi. It operated for only 100 years, but during those years, it became epoch-making. Although 100 years have passed since it ceased to exist, its role and the responses remain.

Edgar Hovhannisyan did not consider it by chance that the Armenian State Pedagogical University had to address this major anniversary, as the main university and educational institution. “Scientific conferences are not only aimed at revaluing, discovering new facts and exploring our history, but also have applied importance. Today, we see that even a century after it ceased to exist, the Nersisyan School is serving its mission. This international scientific conference is also important in terms of the strengthening of the fraternal relations between Armenians and Georgians and the relations in education and science; the presence of such representatives under one roof already means that the scientific conference is a success.”

In his speech entitled “Nersisyan School: The Initiative to Establish a Center for Educational Excellence” at the plenary session, ASPU Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences Samvel Poghosyan provided details in order to show and elucidate the efforts that Nerses Ashtaraketsi made to establish an educational institution that would meet the highest criteria of education. “As a real intellectual and ideological figure, Nerses Ashtaraketsi had a clear understanding that only through education can young people achieve success, and that the nation is doomed to retardation and failures without an enlightened generation,” the speaker remarked.

In his speech entitled “From the Past to Present: the Tradition Continues”, Professor of Caucasus University, Candidate of Historical Sciences Guranda Chelidze highlighted the fact that Caucasus University helps implement the educational programs in the Armenian schools in Georgia, in accordance with the all-European principles of the formation of a civil society and democratic education.

Levon Chidilyan touched upon management of the Tbilisi Nersisyan Spiritual School and thoroughly presented the educational programs of the newly established School, the subjects that were taught and addressed the charter. “This format for teaching and management was not only innovative for the school of Eastern Armenians, but also revolutionary for the whole region,” the speaker mentioned.

The conference continued with discussions during which Armenian and foreign educational figures presented new and interesting details about Nersisyan School and its activities in their respective speeches.

The two-day international scientific conference entitled “Tbilisi Nersisyan School and its Role in Academic Life in the Caucasus” will continue tomorrow.