EFFECTS OF TRANSITION IN EDUCATION SECTOR ADDRESSED BY NEW UNDP PROJECT

ArmenPress
Feb 18 2005

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ministry of Education
and Science and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
launched today the Strengthening Policy Development Capacities of the
Ministry of Education and Science project. Minister Sergo Yeritsyan
and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Lise
Grande signed a Memorandum marking the official start of the project.

A UNDP press release said the first component of the project will
include a survey and analysis of the country’s labor market and
forecasts of labor requirements through 2015. Under the second
component, a Concept Paper will be developed and policy
recommendations made on reforming state management of science. The
recommendations will aim at making the sector sustainable and
efficient and responsive to the Armenian economy. The recommendations
will also aim at ensuring that Armenian science remains highly
competitive in the world and at the cutting edge of new technologies.

This innovative project supports other reforms in the education
sector aimed at addressing the impact of the transition and ensuring
links between employers and the country’s education and training
system. Recognizing that standards have declined and that the
excessive supply of graduates has contributed to unemployment, acted
as a break on wage rates and led to continuing brain drain, the
Government and international organizations are working together to
reform the sector. Through UNDP’s project, efforts will be made to
ensure that instruction is targeted at the labor market and that
vacancies are filled by candidates with practical knowledge and
skills.
Ms. Grande noted in her speech: “This project is a concrete
indication of UNDP’s commitment toward helping Armenia to build an
open, modern and knowledge-based economy that is able to compete
globally and attract investments. Education and science are critical
sectors not only for the economy, but also for the social and
cultural development of any country. And for a country like Armenia,
with highly valuable human capital, sustaining positive traditions is
the key to real success.”
The half-year project is co-financed by the Government of Armenia
and UNDP.