Border Village Davit Bek’s School Faces Closure Threat; New School Opens Near Tailings Dump in Artsvanik

The school in the village of Davit Bek, located in the Kapan community of Syunik Province and bordering Azerbaijan, is under threat of closure. It is set to be moved to the village of Artsvanik, where a new school is already under construction. This issue has been under discussion for the second consecutive year. Davit Danielyan, a pro-government lawmaker from the province, recently expressed his concern on the matter, noting that the condition of the school in Davit Bek is not poor, and the existing problems could be solved through renovation.

However, it should be noted that the village of Artsvanik is located near the Artsvanik Tailings Dump. It is known that the residents there receive financial assistance from the Kajaran Copper-Molybdenum Combine in exchange for the environmental and health risks. Furthermore, various programs are regularly implemented there. For instance, according to the 2024 report published by the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), water heaters were provided to families in the village with four or more children.

A tailings dump is a structure where toxic, dangerous chemical waste and mine water resulting from chemical processing are separated and stored. Operating tailings dumps may resemble lakes at first glance, but unlike them, tailings dumps are “rich” in toxic materials that are hazardous to life.

We recognize that the operation of the tailings dump has an impact on neighboring communities due to limited land availability. To address this issue, ZCMC provides monthly financial assistance to residents of the surrounding five villages,” the ZCMC report stated.

Moreover, it should be noted that Davit Bek is one of the villages in the Kapan community that continues to be populated by young families and has a historical past. Compared to other border villages, it is the most populated, with 934 residents. Meanwhile, Artsvanik currently has 814 residents.

Davit Danielyan also noted that by moving the school from Davit Bek, the village might lose its young population, especially since residents in Artsvanik receive monthly assistance.

Consequently, the relocation of the school could have not only educational but also social, economic, and security consequences. Such a decision could contribute to the emigration of young families, the reduction of the village’s population, and the decline of the community’s viability.

Furthermore, the new school will open in a village affected by the tailings dump, potentially creating health issues for the students. This creates additional risks for education in the new school and calls into question the effectiveness of programs aimed at ensuring children’s safe education.

Satenik Avetisyan