His Holiness Aram I–Catholicos of Cilicia–declared 2006 "The Year of The Armenian School." The Catholicos had previously marked "The Year of the Holy Bible" in 2003–"The Year of the Armenian Family" in 2004–and "The Year of National Struggle" in 2005.
In a special Pontifical Message–His Holiness discusses the mission of the Armenian school–calling it a "fortress for the Armenian nation–an anchor for the Armenian community–and a guarantor of Armenia’s strength."
In the second part of his Message–the Pontiff stressed the importance of increasing student enrollment–creating a new educational system–reorganizing Armenian education–constructing new schools–achieving economic viability–and re-qualifying teachers.
Various initiatives aimed at strengthening the Armenian school will be organized in 2006 in all the Diocese under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
