Armenian Minister of Education Calls for Expansion of Persian and Armenian Language Teaching in Schools of Both Countries

According to the Information and Public Relations Center of the Ministry of Education, Alireza Kazemi, Iran’s Minister of Education, met with Zhanna Andreasyan, Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, on Monday, September 7th. Welcoming the visiting Armenian delegation, Kazemi expressed hope that this visit would pave the way for expanding and enhancing scientific, educational, and tourism cooperation between the two nations.

Iran Appreciates Armenia’s Stance towards Israel

The Minister of Education thanked Armenia for its statement condemning Israel's criminal attacks against Iran, stating: "The Israeli regime, by violating international laws and attacking countries and peoples of the region—especially the oppressed people of Gaza—has jeopardized security and justice."

Emphasis on Cultural and Civilizational Commonalities

Kazemi highlighted the numerous cultural, civilizational, and border-related similarities between Iran and Armenia, saying: "We seek peace, stability, and tranquility in the region and support the territorial integrity of Armenia."  He also referred to the recent visit of Iran’s President to Armenia, during which 12 cooperation agreements were signed, marking significant achievements.

Status of Armenians in Iran and Teaching Persian in Armenia

The Minister expressed satisfaction with the teaching Persian in Armenian schools, stating: "In Iran as well, Armenians hold a prominent position—they have representatives in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, manage their own dedicated schools, and maintain valuable standing within the Ministry of Science."

Overview of Iran’s Educational Capacities

Kazemi presented an overview of Iran’s educational activities, mentioning that two specialized universities under the supervision of Ministry of Education are actively preparing about 100,000 teachers to enter the educational system. Additionally, nearly 15,000 students at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University are being trained as technical and vocational educators. He added: "Despite severe sanctions, Iran has made significant progress, winning 47 medals in scientific Olympiads and 133 medals in sports competitions. We are ready to sign multiple Memoranda of Understanding with Armenia."

Proposal for a Joint Working Group

Kazemi emphasized Iran's readiness, with the ambassador's initiative, to form a joint working group between the two countries to promote the development of Persian and Armenian languages and to expand joint scientific and cultural activities.

Remarks by Armenia’s Minister of Education

Zhanna Andreasyan, Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, expressed her gratitude for Iran’s hospitality, stating: "We have a positive assessment of Iran’s commitment to the principles important to Armenia, and we are pleased to have always enjoyed support from the Islamic Republic."  Referring to the recent visit by Iran’s President to Armenia, she noted the great significance of the visit for both countries and described the current meeting as an important step toward advancing educational and cultural objectives.

Proposals for Joint Educational and Sports Activities

Introducing the accompanying Armenian delegation, Minister Andreasyan proposed signing a joint agreement to expand Persian and Armenian languages in the schools of both nations. She also underscored the importance of sports activities in schools and suggested organizing joint competitions between Iranian and Armenian students.