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YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. For already three years, the ‘National Song and Dance’ subject has been introduced in several schools of Armenia.
Students are very excited to learn the songs and dances after its introduction.
School kids of the Abovyan elementary school even say they would love for the subject to be taught from earlier grades, than the current 5th.
“Most of all we like the Ejmiatsin and Yarkhushta dances. We even teach people who don’t know how to dance”, the 6th graders said.
Gayane Avagyan, a teacher of the same school who specializes in national song and dance, says initially the children, who are still unfamiliar with culture, often refuse to dance. However after being introduced to the songs and dances, they start to dance with great enthusiasm.
Speaking on issues during the school process, the teacher said most of them are technical. The lack of textbooks is the main issue.
“I would like for the book and recording issue to be solved in the future. The materials are copies, and it isn’t affordable for the children. If the child sees that the subject doesn’t have a book, he begins to treat it differently”, she said.
The pilot program for the ‘National Song and Dance’ subject was introduced for the 5-7 grades in 2014, including 8 schools in Yerevan and 2 schools in the provinces. The program aimed at strengthening national values in children from an early age.
Deputy minister of education and science Manuk Mkrtchyan told ARMENPRESS currently the program is introduces in 117 schools of Yerevan and provinces.