News > Kuwaiti Armenians > Garo Arslanian: My true hope is to find the same kind of eagerness to read and write in my students

  

 Azad-Hye Special

Interview with the Deputy Principal of the Armenian High School in Kuwait Garo Arslanian.

Mr. Garo Arslanian, as a Deputy Principal you are in the beginning of your second educational year in Kuwait. Did you face any difficulties?
The school and community here are so friendly and welcoming. The only difficulty I have faced so far was related to some changes in the governmental laws. I should also mention the fact that we are in need of teachers who are abreast with contemporary life.

To what nationalities belong the teachers in the school? What is the number of the students?
Let me start with the students. I can proudly announce that their number, covering kindergarten all the way up to secondary classes, is over 400. As for the teachers, they are mostly from Syria, Egypt and Lebanon. 

The school has a history of 50 years. Based on the existing experience, can you enlighten us and tell us what to consider before starting a new Armenian daily school in neighboring Sharjah (in the UAE)?
My only advice is (even before the educational system), to preplan the financial agenda. Once you make sure that it is both stable and reasonable, then you know your school will not close its doors after functioning few years.

What about activities and art events in the Armenian community in Kuwait? Have you ever managed to organize an evening relying merely on potentials from the school?
We do have lots of talented students, some of them can recite poems, others can sing or dance. Hence we have two annual school competitions, one for poetry recitation and one for singing. These are considered two of the much-anticipated events.

Any plans for the school’s golden anniversary?
Most probably, a commemorative book will be published on this occasion in year 2009.

We know that you personally have had many writing and publishing experiences back in Syria. Do you still find time to write?
One can never change his love towards art or literature, it could only grow and grow. Of course nowadays, I do not have as abundant time to write as before, but it is always a part of my daily life. My true hope is to find the same kind of eagerness to read and write in my students. As for publishing, I have published several children books, because I have noticed that we lack that kind of literature in the Diaspora, and who knows, maybe I will further my attempts here in Kuwait one day.

Garo Arslanian's email: giro78 (at) hotmail.com

Text prepared in Armenian and translated into English by Nanor Mikayelian

The above article (English and Armenian) is sponsored by Hratch Brunsuzian (UAE) as part of Sponsor an Article project.

Photos:
1) Garo Arslanian in his office.
2) The gate of the Armenian School in Surra area in Kuwait.

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