MEETINGS AT ARAGATSOTN SCHOOLS
By S. Hakobian

Yerkir.am
February 09, 2007

Member of ARF’s Supreme Body, Minister of Science and Education Levon
Mkrtchian made a working visit to Aragatsotn marz on February 7 where
he met teachers of secondary schools in Kosh and Aroch villages.

900 million drams was allocated to schools in Aragatsotn in 2006. 1.3
billion drams will be allocated in 2007 which will help the schools
solve many problems they are facing.

"We have already started discussing issues connected with education
reforms on the marz level. I think secondary education is very
important since it plays a crucial role in education reform," Mkrtchian
stated. The Minister believes we have to ensure quality education on
all levels, and the reforms should start with secondary education.

At the meeting in the school in Kosh, which is 100 years old, the
Minister noted that if several years ago the main concern regarding
the school in Kosh was preservation of the existing facilities, now the
concern is improving the school’s facilities, solution of the teachers’
social problems and improving their professional qualifications. The
schools are facing a number of problems – lack of heating, buildings
and facilities, furniture, laboratory equipment, libraries.

Most of the schools in the country have been included in the
large-scale school renovation program. 22 schools were renovated in
Aragatsotn marz in 2006.

1800 units of furniture will be provided to the schools in
Aragatsotn. The main problem Kosh community is experiencing is
gasification. Once the community gets access to natural gas the issue
of local heating system for the school will also be settled.

The Minister noted that the school also lacks laboratory equipment
and library. The World Bank has provided 250 thousand dollars for
books for school libraries.

The issue of laboratory equipment will be solved once the high schools
are established. The Minister noted it is necessary to catch up with
progress in the sphere of education so that our school diplomas are
recognized and accepted internationally. Mkrtchian stated we should
be able to bring up citizens who would be able to represent their
country worldwide. The sphere of education requires continuous work
and great attention.

The Minister believes there are problems with high school
education because there is a gap between secondary and university
education. Those who can afford private tutors go to take private
classes while those who cannot afford them do not continue their
education.

Stressing the importance of a unified examination system the Minister
noted that the entrance exams should not be decisive for the university
applicants.

By merging the high school graduation and university entrance exams
equal conditions will be created for students from all social segments.

Commenting on re-training of teachers Mkrtchian noted that 17 thousand
out of 40 thousand teachers have already been trained. We will be
able to speak about improving the quality of education only once all
the teachers are retrained.

Most of the schools have computer classes, therefore, teachers
should also be trained on computer literacy. Teachers will have to
pass attestation. The Minister informed that a special committee has
been established to examine the quality of teaching foreign languages
at schools.

The teachers addressed a number of requests to the Minister including
provision of a training gun for civil defense course, provision of
sports equipment. The Minister promised to follow up on their requests.

The Ministry of Education has tried to get the government’s approval
for all programs in education sphere up to 2010 ensuring that these
programs get necessary funding through international donors including
the World Bank and the European Union.

These programs inspire hope for improvement of the education
sphere. "As a representative of a political party who has been in
charge of this sphere several times, I believe these programs will be
implemented. Continuity is a must in education policies. We cannot
destroy the old system and then build a new one, we should create
the new system building on the old one," the Minister concluded.