Comments on: To Pay or Not to Pay – that is the question, the dilemma and the easiest way to receive a degree http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/ Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:51:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Oneworld Multimedia :: Notes from the Armenian Blogosphere :: March :: 2006 http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-113 Oneworld Multimedia :: Notes from the Armenian Blogosphere :: March :: 2006 Sun, 12 Mar 2006 15:14:31 +0000 http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-113 [...] Of course, while Life Skills classes included as part of the National Curriculum in Armenia do now deal with STIs and HIV/AIDS, there are of course problems with the educational system in the country. Armyouth covers this problem — at its most severe in Yerevan’s Universities — and quotes extensively from young local bloggers. When speaking to my professor back in the U.S. about this topic, she was not surprised of such phenomenon occurring in Armenia. I inquired what actions must be taken in order to combat this and she responded that in the end time will bring about the change. Her comparison was interesting, she compared this problem with corruption in the university with a banana. As time goes by, those professors who continue these practices will begin to slowly peel away and out of the system. This takes time of course and once this occurs, then it is among the younger generation of professors who will no longer become tolerant of such practices. Yet on the other hand, this younger generation of professors currently working side-by-side with the older generation who continue these actions – how can they not be tempted to participate in such activities as well? To continue this analogy with fruits, if there is a bad apple among a bunch of good apples – will the bad apple not begin to have an effect on the good apples? [...] [...] Of course, while Life Skills classes included as part of the National Curriculum in Armenia do now deal with STIs and HIV/AIDS, there are of course problems with the educational system in the country. Armyouth covers this problem — at its most severe in Yerevan’s Universities — and quotes extensively from young local bloggers. When speaking to my professor back in the U.S. about this topic, she was not surprised of such phenomenon occurring in Armenia. I inquired what actions must be taken in order to combat this and she responded that in the end time will bring about the change. Her comparison was interesting, she compared this problem with corruption in the university with a banana. As time goes by, those professors who continue these practices will begin to slowly peel away and out of the system. This takes time of course and once this occurs, then it is among the younger generation of professors who will no longer become tolerant of such practices. Yet on the other hand, this younger generation of professors currently working side-by-side with the older generation who continue these actions – how can they not be tempted to participate in such activities as well? To continue this analogy with fruits, if there is a bad apple among a bunch of good apples – will the bad apple not begin to have an effect on the good apples? [...]

]]> By: Zarchka http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-111 Zarchka Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:37:16 +0000 http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-111 On my consideration the only problem is still in the mentally and the false assumption that everyone should have education. But here, saying “education” we do not mean the knowledge, but the sheet of paper called “Diploma” which plays a decisive roll in student’s future enrollment in this or that kind or job. And as a matter of fact students do not care for the profession they gain at the University, because their lifeline is already predicted by some authorized people who have saved work for him or her and just the diploma is needed. In other cases as I said before, diploma is the necessary element of the dowry which is so common in Armenian. For emphasizing this I can say that nearly all my course mates need it for the same reason. They don’t care for learning and are so obliged when the professors grade them 3 for knowing 2 or 3 topics out of say 60. And they also buy course papers from the best providers, but yet they receive the same 3. On the contrary I always liked writing course papers, especially when they are assigned from literature, and that’s the most perfect way to enrich my horizon…yet… they prefer just buying it to sparing their “precious time” which is later wasted on sitting in some café and watching people over the nonsense chatting. I was just shocked when a friend said that his professor assigns writing a course paper, then lets the students know that he also writes such papers, but sells not for 8000 drams, as is the average price, but for 16000. But later he never grades 5, but 3, in better cases-4. It's so outrageous! Whether he doesn't appreciate his knowledge, or ... I don't know... What concerns banana theory. Banana never peels by itself, someone is needed to peel it. And that must be the student. And if you put two apples of different sort together and add another putrefied one, it will spoil the one closer to its own sort. On my consideration the only problem is still in the mentally and the false assumption that everyone should have education. But here, saying “education” we do not mean the knowledge, but the sheet of paper called “Diploma” which plays a decisive roll in student’s future enrollment in this or that kind or job. And as a matter of fact students do not care for the profession they gain at the University, because their lifeline is already predicted by some authorized people who have saved work for him or her and just the diploma is needed.

In other cases as I said before, diploma is the necessary element of the dowry which is so common in Armenian. For emphasizing this I can say that nearly all my course mates need it for the same reason. They don’t care for learning and are so obliged when the professors grade them 3 for knowing 2 or 3 topics out of say 60. And they also buy course papers from the best providers, but yet they receive the same 3. On the contrary I always liked writing course papers, especially when they are assigned from literature, and that’s the most perfect way to enrich my horizon…yet… they prefer just buying it to sparing their “precious time” which is later wasted on sitting in some café and watching people over the nonsense chatting.
I was just shocked when a friend said that his professor assigns writing a course paper, then lets the students know that he also writes such papers, but sells not for 8000 drams, as is the average price, but for 16000. But later he never grades 5, but 3, in better cases-4. It’s so outrageous! Whether he doesn’t appreciate his knowledge, or … I don’t know…

What concerns banana theory. Banana never peels by itself, someone is needed to peel it. And that must be the student. And if you put two apples of different sort together and add another putrefied one, it will spoil the one closer to its own sort.

]]> By: Alex http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-110 Alex Wed, 08 Mar 2006 02:52:33 +0000 http://armyouth.wordpress.com/2006/03/07/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question-the-dilemma-and-the-easiest-way-to-receive-a-degree/#comment-110 Before I write anything, I should say that I am an American, and my knowledge of social issues in Armenia is negligible. So if any of my assumptions are incorrect, I apologize. It seems to me that the comparison of bribe-taking professors to “bad apples” is better than the analogy to a banana. Time may peel away the rotten layers of the banana (in this case, the corrupt professors). But corruption to that degree does not disappear without action. Younger professors, it would seem, would be very likely to consider bribery an acceptable custom. Without a determined program to root out corrupt professors, what is to stop new professors from assuming the bribery is standard operating procedure? As mentioned in the post, it is simply a vicious circle. Armenian students could be agents for change, but as the post mentions, many see bribery as the only solution. Many similar things happen here in the US. Students steal essays from the internet, cheat on tests, or take drugs that help them study, since they see these actions as the only way to succeed. I believe that time cannot heal these wounds. A concerted effort must be made by professors and students, both in Armenia and in the US, to fix these problems. Honest professors and students must prove to the others that bribery in education is not acceptable. And doctors, ecologists, and engineers that bribed their way through school should be shamed into obtaining the knowledge their degree says they have. It is a tough task, but it can be done. I wish Armenians the best of luck. Before I write anything, I should say that I am an American, and my knowledge of social issues in Armenia is negligible. So if any of my assumptions are incorrect, I apologize. It seems to me that the comparison of bribe-taking professors to “bad apples” is better than the analogy to a banana. Time may peel away the rotten layers of the banana (in this case, the corrupt professors). But corruption to that degree does not disappear without action. Younger professors, it would seem, would be very likely to consider bribery an acceptable custom. Without a determined program to root out corrupt professors, what is to stop new professors from assuming the bribery is standard operating procedure? As mentioned in the post, it is simply a vicious circle.

Armenian students could be agents for change, but as the post mentions, many see bribery as the only solution. Many similar things happen here in the US. Students steal essays from the internet, cheat on tests, or take drugs that help them study, since they see these actions as the only way to succeed. I believe that time cannot heal these wounds. A concerted effort must be made by professors and students, both in Armenia and in the US, to fix these problems. Honest professors and students must prove to the others that bribery in education is not acceptable. And doctors, ecologists, and engineers that bribed their way through school should be shamed into obtaining the knowledge their degree says they have. It is a tough task, but it can be done. I wish Armenians the best of luck.

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