KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

On April 3-5, Kyiv hosted the 9th All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad which was organized by the Institute of Correctional Pedagogy and Psychology of the National Pedagogical

 Dragomanov University. The event brought together 46 participants from different countries.

 

Participating in the Olympiad were also representatives from Armenia. Margarita Tumanyan, a first-year graduate student of the Faculty of Special Education, Armenian State Pedagogical University, and Artur Gevorgyan, a four-year undergraduate student of the same University, represented the country at the Olympiad for the first time.  

 

During the event, Margarita Tumanyan presented her work entitled “The use of PECS (picture exchange communication system) for children with autism.” While preparing for the Olympiad, Margarita was assisted by Zhanna Paylozyan, Head of the Chair of Logopaedics and Rehabilitation Therapy.

 

Ella Kafyan, an Associate Professor at the Chair of Special Education and Psychology, helped Artur Gevorgyan to prepare his report on “Psychological guidance of Armenian families where children have developmental problems.” It is due to mention that only the Armenian participant referred to the theme. 

 

After two rounds, the Organizing Committee chaired by Professor Sinev, Head of the Chair of Typhlopedagogy at the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, assessed the participants' work. Artur Gevorgyan came 3rd at the Olympiad and Margarita Tumanyan was awarded for the best presentation of the regional experience. 

 

Talking to armspu.am, the students said the Olympiad was a good opportunity for the participants to exchange experience and knowledge. “Getting acquainted with the topics presented by the participants, we can confidently announce that special education is on a high level in Armenia. Representatives of some countries were not even aware of PECS and the modern methods used in Armenia,” said Artur Gevorgyan.