ArmenPress
Aug 30 2004

TSAGHKADZOR HOSTED ALL ARMENIAN EDUCATIONAL FIRST CONFERENCE

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS: All Armenian Educational First
Conference under the auspices of president Kocharian and Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II opened on Aug 27 in the resort town of
Tsaghkadzor. Some 220 Armenian teachers from 29 countries of the
world participated in the conference.
Armenian president Robert Kocharian addressed a message which says
in particular, “education plays an indispensable role in
Armenia-Diaspora relations. This important pillar of preservation of
Armenian identity needs continued renewal and modernization. Steps
taken by Armenian leadership, education of teachers at higher
educational establishments, training of teachers from Diaspora,
publication of textbooks and methodology manuals are necessary but
not sufficient support to Armenian schools across the world.” In his
message, the president also voiced his hope that the developments at
the conference will open up wider opportunities for Armenian
establishments across the world.
Catholicos of All Armenian Karekin II honored the conference,
noting that cooperation in the field of education between Armenia and
Diaspora is of vital importance. The more healthy our schools are,
the bigger our hope for the future, he said.
The conference was also greeted by PM Andranik Margarian, Speaker
of Armenian National Assembly Arthur Baghdasarian and His Holiness
Catholicos Aram A. Congratulating speeches were made by Armenian
minister of culture and youth affairs Hovik Hoveian, chairman of
Armenian writers’ union Levon Ananian.
The first speaker of the conference, education minister Sergo
Yeritsian said that accessibility and openness, quality and
compatibility of education are challenging issues today because very
few young people attend Armenian schools across the world now.
Speaking on education policy and reform, he underscored
modernization of education. He said by the proposal and support of
Catholicos of All Armenians a training school for Diaspora teachers
is planned to be opened in Armenia which will contribute largely to
quality of education in Armenian schools across the world.
Speaking about the education system within Armenia, the minister
said that we have a developing school though it is slightly
imbalanced. Schools in border areas and mountainous regions
considerably stay back from schools in the capital. In some cases
even non specialists teach certain subjects there and a lot of
vacancies are available. Yeritsian promised that the salaries of
teachers will rise up to 51,000 in 2005. He also said that there will
be no teachers in the republic in the coming three years who will
stay without passing training.
The head of Armenian national institute of education affiliated to
education ministry Viktor Martirossian preferred 12 year education in
his speech on the topic of Armenian education and educational
developments in the world. The Armenian schools will pass onto this
new regime starting 2006. Though the economic conditions push for
shorter education, the Russian statistics indicates that 85 percent
of illnesses among schoolchildren are due to overload of teaching at
schools.
Only 25 percent of children go to kindergartens because of poor
facilities in kindergartens and low public income levels.