Besides drinking coffee, scholars work too: Director of Institute of Literature says PM’s ideas about science sector do not correspond to reality

The claims of the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan that the scholars go to work in the morning, drink coffee and return home and the results of their work is not seen does not correspond to reality, director of Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences Vardan Devrikyan said, speaking to Aysor.am.

Earlier speaking about the raise of funding of the science sector, Pashinyan said the funding of the education sector has been raised but expressed dissatisfaction of the sector of science, stating that hence the scholars will be demanded presenting concrete projects for them to be financed.

“We will not be viewing the raise of funding of the science sector as for it we must understand what the science will give to the state and the people. There are many scholars who go to work in the morning, drink coffee and go back home with the results of their work not being seen,” the head of the government stated.

“As far as the viewpoint of the prime minister is being formed from the information he received from his advisers relating to our sector, I will just say that it is necessary to sue them for misinformation,” Devrikyan said.

He said it is necessary to bow heads in front of the scholars who give absolute results in conditions of such low funding.

“It is necessary to be surprised at the enthusiasm of the people carrying out such big work day and night. They work not only during the working hours but in the evenings as well to have necessary results,” he said, adding that it is being done at the expense of their energy, life.

Devrikyan stated that director of each academic institute may demonstrate the work of the institute, and the people will be stunned.

“I think after a years a dissertation will be written in what heroic conditions the science survived and developed and got leading position in the Republic of Armenia,” the director of the institute said.

As to whether Nikol Pashinyan is an official who needs to be briefed on the situation in the science sector by his advisers, Devrikyan said, “I have no other explanation, because the viewpoint he expressed has nothing to do with the reality. In any case the prime minister’s opinion must be based on what his specialists and advisers of the corresponding sector say. At least I think that it was wrong information and the prime minister will have an opportunity to review his opinion,” he said, adding that the scholars do drink coffee but they work too and the results of this work will remain forever.