On April 5, 2025, the “SAFE SCHOOL | BULLYING-FREE EDUCATION” Pedagogical Conference was held, which was organized by the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center in cooperation with the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, UNICEF, and the Armenian State Pedagogical University.
The Conference was aimed at preventing and eliminating the environment and factors that contribute to violence and bullying in general schools, as well as improving anti-bullying measures and activities to ensure an overall positive atmosphere in schools.
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Araksia Svajyan, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Armenia Silvia Mestroni, Director of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center Lilit Mnatsakanyan, Vice-Rector for HR Management and International Cooperation of Armenian State Pedagogical University Marianna Harutyunyan, Acting Director of the “National Center for Education Development and Innovation” Foundation Artashes Torosyan, Head of Education Inspection Body Vagharshak Matikyan, and UNICEF Access to Justice Programme Officer Victoria Ohanyan delivered opening speeches.
Welcoming the attendees, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Araksia Svajyan attached importance to ensuring a safe and bullying-free environment from the perspective of increasing the quality and efficiency of education. Mrs. Svajyan expressed hope that the issues and discussions raised during the Conference will contribute to the resolution of numerous key problems. Mrs. Svajyan addressed the introduction of mandatory psychologist positions in general education institutions and the filling of vacant places, the procedures for introducing pedagogical-psychological services in preschool education institutions, the activities carried out by the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center in this direction, as well as the programs implemented in cooperation with UNICEF, the World Bank, other international partners and non-governmental organizations.
RPPC Director Lilit Mnatsakanyan welcomed those present and extended her gratitude to the partners for their cooperation. Speaking about the relevance of the issue, L. Mnatsakanyan presented the completed, ongoing, and planned activities carried out by the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center. Mrs. Mnatsakanyan elaborated on the need to endure a favorable environment in schools, to promptly identify and respond to instances of bullying, and to introduce various negative effects of bullying, methods, and mechanisms for prevention, in this regard emphasizing the need for further continuity of the Conference.
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Attaching importance to the role of schools in developing anti-bullying policy, L. Mnatsakanyan touched upon the three manuals developed by the RPPC for that purpose. The three manuals can be a useful resource in the process of developing and implementing anti-bullying policy. L. Mnatsakanyan also spoke about the experience of schools within the framework of the “Introduction of Procedures on Bullying Prevention and Response in Schools” Pilot Program and the need to disseminate the experience in other educational institutions.
UNICEF Deputy Representative in Armenia Silvia Mestroni noted that, as in the rest of the world, the prevalence of bullying is increasing in Armenia as well. However, Mrs. Mestroni views this as a motivation to unite efforts in this direction. Mrs. Mestroni assured that UNICEF supports and will continue to support the fight against bullying, emphasizing it from the perspective of children’s rights.
The speakers at the Conference were leading experts in the field of education, who in their reports addressed the causes of bullying, its various manifestations, the activities to be implemented in this direction, and prevention mechanisms, considering different approaches, forms, and methods.
During the Conference, the RPPC “MIASIN” (Together) Theatre Troupe also delivered a short “report” while presenting “In My World” interactive performance.
The Pedagogical Conference was accompanied by an exhibition of paintings of students from Yerevan Basic School N 131 named after Peyo Yavorov, Yerevan Secondary School N 87 named after Hakob and Lutovika Ayntaplyans, and Avedisian School, participant schools in the “Introduction of Procedures on Bullying Prevention and Response in Schools” Pilot Program. In their paintings, the students put their ideas about bullying on paper using artistic means and expressed their attitude towards the phenomenon. At the end of the Conference, the school directors and psychologists were awarded with certificates of appreciation, and the authors of the winning paintings, as a result of a previously organized vote, were awarded with certificates of honor.
The Conference was successful and the activity and enthusiasm of the participants promised its continuity.
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"SAFE SCHOOL | BULLYING-FREE EDUCATION" PEDAGOGICAL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Haykuhi Adamyan
Deputy Director of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center, Lecturer at YSU Chair of Personality Psychology
Ani Gareginyan
Head of RPPC Department of Training and Methodological Support
Ani Khudoyan
Methodologist-Trainer at RPPC Department of Training and Methodological Support, Lecturer at ASPU Chair of Psychology, PhD in Psychological Sciences
Alina Manukyan
PhD in Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor at ASPU Chair of Special Pedagogy and Psychology, Specialist at RPPC Department of Content Development
Armine Avagyan
Psychologist at RPPC Department of Pedagogical-Psychological Assistance
Ani Boyajyan
Special Educator at RPPC Department of Assessment
Marine Asatryan
Art Therapist at RPPC Department of Pedagogical-Psychological Support, Head of the “MIASIN” (Together) Theatre Troupe
Kristina Baghdasaryan
President of Kanani Social-Psychological Center NGO
Lusine Balayan
Mentor of the “Ensuring the Development of Teaching Skills of Teachers and Teacher Assistants of General Education Schools” Program
Gor Msrikyan
Director of Yerevan N 3 Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Center
Karine Avetisyan
Mentor of the “Ensuring the Development of Teaching Skills of Teachers and Teacher Assistants of General Education Schools” Program
𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐧, 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐤 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐧 - Specialists at the “Child Development Foundation” providing services at the Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Center in Vayots Dzor Marz __________________________________________ 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐧 - Psychologist at Stepanavan Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Center
Haykuhi Adamyan, Arpi Khachaturyan, Arevik Petrosyan, Lena Poghosyan, Lusine Benyaminyan
Topic: “Introduction of Procedures on Bullying Prevention and Response in Schools” Pilot Program: Presentation of School Experiences
RPPC “MIASIN” theatre troupe
Topic: “In My World”
