ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TARGETS AMD 15 BILLION FOR REPAIRING SCHOOLS

ARKA
March 24, 2008

YEREVAN, March 24. /ARKA/. Armenian government targets AMD 15 billion
from the 2008 state budget for repairing schools, Onik Vatyan, chief
of Yerevan municipality’s education unit, said on Monday at a press
conference.

He said that the government earmarked AMD 6.4 billion for schools
reconstruction in 2004 while in 2008 it allocates AMD 15 billion.

Vatyan said that investment program worth 10 million is being
implemented now. Under this program, five dilapidated schools will
be reconstructed.

Vatyan also said that AMD 330 million is allocated for purchasing
furniture for schools in 2008.

For comparison, he pointed out that in 2007only 90 million was
earmarked for that. He said that another 6.4 million is allocated
for boiler houses.

Vatyan said that Yerevan municipality is planning to repair 50 boiler
houses in 2008. He said in 2007, 49 boiler houses were repaired a
year earlier.

In his words, the city authorities intend to increase the number
of the schools provided with own boilers to 153. This is 75% of 205
municipality-controlled secondary schools. ($1 = AMD 308.78)
From: Baghdasarian