SCIENCE AND EDUCATION FINANCED IN AMOUNT OF 72.1 BILLION DRAMS FROM STATE BUDGET IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Sep 5, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 72.1 bln drams (about 173.3 mln USD)
was allocated from the RA state budget to the sphere of science and
education in 2006. The fulfilment index made 88.5%. The deviation
is mainly conditioned by a low implemenation index of grant and
credit programs on elementray, main and secondary education. Without
these programs, the fulfilment index made 99.5%. There was a growth
of allocations with respect to all subgroups of the education and
science sphere as compared with 2005, as a result of which expenditures
grew by 18.6%, the RA deputy minister of finance and economy, chief
treasurer Atom Janjughazian said at the September 5 joint sitting of
the RA National Assemly standing committees.

According to him, 72% of expenditures on the sphere of education and
science or about 52 bln drams was allocated for the comprehensive
education system.

The annual program was fulfilled by 84.9%. The deviation was mainly
caused by delay in incurring expenses envisaged by the Lincy Foundation
grant programs, as well as by underfulfilment of the education quality
and conformity credit program implemented with the assistance of the
World Bank.

In 2006, over 4.3 bln drams was allocated from the state budget to
general special programs whose implementation index made 98.1%, 2.3
bln drams – to out-of-school education (99.9%), and about 5.3 bln
drams – to higher and post-graduate special education programs (99.9%).

5.2 bln drams was allocated to science, which made 99.8% of the
envisaged amount. Financing of science was done by basic, target-progam
and contract principles. Allocations to science grew by 25.1% as
compared with 2005, which is due to an increase in salaries, social
insurance payments, in the number of post-graduate students and their
scholarships, as well as by a growth of capital expenditures.