MP: DISTANT LEARNING DEVELOPMENT VERY IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA
ARKA
Nov 17, 2008
YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. Distant learning development is very
important for Armenia, Armen Ashotyan, chairman of the parliamentary
standing committee on science, education, culture, the youth and sport,
said Monday at meeting dedicated to the Day of Students.
"Distant learning in Armenia is underdeveloped and even missing.
Meanwhile there are many advantages in distant learning", he said.
Ashotyan said distant learning is very democratic since it bridges
the gap between low-income and high-income students.
He said universities’ expenses for distant learning are not so great
and tuition fees should be small.
"Besides, students from provinces won’t have to come to Yerevan. The
distant tuition will give them a chance to obtain their education in
their provinces", Ashotyan said.
The lawmaker thinks that developed distant learning will not only
make education available for young people from low-income provincial
families, but also ease Yerevan’s burden and enhance Armenian
universities competitiveness.
Ashotyan thinks development of distant learning is hampered by
imperfect legislation.
Education and Science Minister Spartak Seyranyan said that the ministry
is working out relevant programs and intends to unveil them soon.
As key obstacle for distant learning development, Seyranyan singled
out the fact that availability of advanced te chnologies is far higher
in the country than necessary ability to use them.
He said that the rate of students able to use computers and new
technologies is not so high in Armenia, and this is an obstacle for
distant learning introduction.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
