EXCESSIVE SUPPLY OF GRADUATES CONTRIBUTES TO UNEMPLOYMENT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18. ARMINFO. – Today, the Ministry of Education
and Science of Armenia and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) launched the Strengthening Policy Development Capacities of the
Ministry of Education and Science project. Minister Mr. Sergo Yeritsyan
and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Lise
Grande signed a Memorandum marking the official start of the project.

The Armenian Government actively cooperates with international
organization to optimize the systems of education in the country, which
will allow softening the negative consequences of the transitional
period no the system of education, Minister Sego Yersitsyan says in
the course of the ceremony.

Yeritsyan says that to implement the programme designed for 6 months,
the UN will provide Armenia 50,000 USD. The first component of the
project will include a survey and analysis of the country’s labour
market and forecasts of labour 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, he says.

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. Recognising 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 organisations are working together
to reform the sector. Through UNDP’s project, efforts will be made
to ensure that instruction is targeted at the labour 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.