There was no school building in Tatev village untill 1920, the establishment of Soviet Armenia. School studies took place in the monastery. In 1848 Tatev society asked the holy government in Ethmiatzin for opening a school for Tateviants children. In four delays according to the decision of Ethmiatzin holy government a religion school was opened in Tatev monastery. In some years the religion school became a secular one, where Tateviants children also could study. At first the school building was up to the monastery stable, next to the gate to the West consisting of four classrooms. Holy government noticed that the children attention was on the monastery visitors, especially on the pilgrims: built a new school-building in front of the oil mine (dzitahanq), inner the rampart, next to the St. Virgin (Astvatzatzin) till the edge of the hill, with eight classrooms. The first floor was suited to the monks as cells, but the upstairs was used as classrooms.
So Tatev School was established in 1852 and existed till 1917: the October Social Revolution.
Ejmiatzin holy government paid the salary to the teachers, but in the future the country did it, parents paid a part of the salary, as tuition, the education for poor children was free of charge.
The number of students between 1852 and 1879 didn't increase 40-60 students, 2 teachers were working at the school, and the school had 2-3 classrooms.
1890 the school had 4 classrooms, 100 students, and 3 teachers.
1896-917 - October - 4 classrooms, 120 students, and 4 teachers.
So till 1917 school studies took place in the monastery. The senior teacher governed the school activity, besides it a support commitee from the village was chosen to solve school economic problems.
The school studies were stopped several times in cause of different accessions.
The following subjects were taught in the school: religion, Armenian, Russian, Mathematics, Natural sciences, History, Geography, Paining, Music, and Art.
The first teacher was Minas Dpir.
Since 1921 till 1924 September 1st the school didn't work. To educate their children the villagers asked educated villagers to have private lessons with the children.
The question of opening a new school was raised up in regional Committee. The question was delayed and somehow refused, but finally a decision was made about the opening a new school in 1924, September 1st. The studies took place in the monastery. The principle was Ruben Petrosyan. There weren't satisfying conditions: desks, blackboard, tables, chairs and school tools.
The first class children age were not only of 7, but also 12, 13, 14, 15, because of having no school for a long time.
It was impossible always to have studies in the monastery. The little children had difficulties to go to school in winter. It was impossible to have classes in rainy weather.
The situation made the village government to care about having new school building.The new school built began at the end of 1924 and finished at the end of 1926. It had 4 large classrooms. It was built by support of society, which was decided in social meeting. The poor men were freed of payment. People having average earning had to pay 2 ruble, and others, rich men, 3 ruble, and each healthy man had to help with three days work. A new school was in 1933 for a second time, which now is called "old school". Then it was rebuilt for a factory.
The third building was nowadays school built in 1974.
From 1924 till 1931 school was elementary
From 1932 till 1938 seven years
From 1939 till nowadays is secondary.

To be informed about the activity of today's school you can visit the following Internet Site:
http://schools.ascp.am/tatev
The statistics of School Classrooms, students, and teachers from 1924-2004
The degree of the educated Population in Tatev from 1914-1980

B. Harutyunyan