With the participation of a wide range of representatives of governmental bodies, official members, stakeholders interested in the organization, and individuals concerned with education, the 5th anniversary General Assembly of the “One Voice” Association was held on January 23.
As a founding member of the Association, “Usum” School was also represented at the jubilee assembly by the school’s founding principal H. Navasardyan, Deputy Principals for educational and methodological affairs A. Hambardzumyan and K. Nazaryan.
This distinctive organization within the Armenian educational system was established in the aftermath of a period marked by significant challenges for the country. Registered in 2021 as a platform uniting various stakeholders in the education sector, the Association grounded its mission in the idea that education is a shared responsibility. Although it brings together independent schools, the Association has expressed its readiness to contribute to the development of nationwide educational content. Its mission is to promote a high-quality educational environment by fostering dialogue, cooperation, and joint policy and content-based solutions.
It was within this ideological framework that the jubilee General Assembly of the “One Voice” Association was held, bringing together representatives of state institutions, school leaders, and education experts for open and constructive discussions on current challenges in education and pathways for development.
In her opening remarks, Sh. Gevorgyan, Executive Director of the “One Voice” Association, emphasized the importance of perceiving education as a collective responsibility, noting that separating public and private sectors is not an effective approach to ensuring educational quality and systemic progress. According to her, education is a unified value that requires comprehensive engagement and shared accountability.
Congratulating the Association on its jubilee assembly and the effective cooperation achieved over the years, Sisak Gabrielyan, representative of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sports of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, noted that his very first sectoral interdepartmental meeting in office was held with the “One Voice” Association. This, he stated, is a testament to the trust and cooperation that have been established. He stressed that education must serve as a unifying factor regardless of political views or social status, and highlighted as a successful example the process of providing textbooks to the primary levels of private schools.
Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, underscored the necessity of maintaining continuous institutional dialogue, describing it as an effective tool, particularly in times of crisis. According to her, the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic led to the development of a new, innovative agenda in cooperation with the Association, encouraged a shift from closed systems to open dialogue, and contributed to the formulation of conceptual responses to emerging challenges. The Minister expressed hope that the Association would become more inclusive and evolve into a collective body that promotes quality standards, accountability, and transparency.
During the General Assembly, Sh. Gevorgyan also presented the path of formation and development of the “One Voice” Association. The Association was founded by eight schools (including “Usum” School) and, over the course of approximately one year, clarified its mission. In 2023, four strategic directions of activity were established, including participation in the development of state policies and educational strategies. The presentation also covered cooperation aimed at reducing the tax burden, professional development initiatives for teachers and school leaders, as well as priorities focused on creating educational content and enhancing the Association’s impact on the educational system. Membership criteria were outlined, emphasizing legal status and state licensing, a shared vision, and motivation beyond purely profit-driven interests.
The jubilee General Assembly was followed by a panel discussion, during which professional dialogue continued on key sectoral issues, existing challenges, and long-term solutions.
Once again, the Assembly reaffirmed that sustainable and high-quality progress in education is possible only through cooperation, mutual trust, and shared responsibility.
To not think freely is to not think at all!
