New details have emerged regarding the incident at a school in Vardadzor, Gegharkunik Province, where a teacher is accused of physically assaulting a 7-year-old second-grade student on September 30.
Following widespread public attention surrounding the case, Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports announced that legal procedures would be considered to deprive the teacher of the right to engage in teaching activities. The Investigative Committee later reported that the teacher had been detained.
According to Hraparak.am, Vardadzor administrative head Maksim Avetisyan said he had not previously heard of any incidents involving the teacher allegedly hitting students.
“The case is now in the hands of law enforcement, and I have not become involved in that process. The investigation should be completed, and then everything will become clear. It is possible that some of the information currently circulating online has been exaggerated,” Avetisyan said.
He added that the teacher had worked at the school for many years and had nearly 30 years of professional experience. According to Avetisyan, she has four adult children.
Avetisyan also explained how footage from the school’s surveillance cameras reportedly began circulating. According to him, after the child complained about the incident, a parent asked to see the security footage.
He said the parent recorded the footage on a mobile phone and shared it in the class parents’ group chat to inform the other parents about what had allegedly happened. It remains unclear who subsequently published the video online.
The circumstances of the incident are being investigated by law enforcement authorities.
