ABOUT 4,000 ARMENIAN CHILDREN RETURN TO FAMILIES OVER LAST TWO YEARS

ARKA
Dec 10, 2008

YEREVAN, December 10. /ARKA/. About 4,000 Armenian children returned
to their biological families as a result of reforms in the country’s
boarding school system in 2007-2008, RA Minister of Labor and Social
Affairs Arsen Hambartsumyan reported at parliament hearings of
childcare problems in Armenia.

"Seven hundred boarding schools are currently working in Armenia. The
Government is trying to support socially vulnerable families and
relieve the boarding schools by providing social guarantees," the
Minister said.

The Minister said that eight government-financed orphanages housing
900 children are currently working in Armenia.

The Ministry is trying to exercise supervision over privately-owned
child care agencies to form a universal supervision system.

Hambartsumyan pointed out that 243,000 children are currently involved
in the social vulnerability assessment system, with 208,000 of them
living in the allowance-recipient families. The Minister pointed out
the monthly child benefit rate is 6,000 AMD for each child.

Armenia’s child population (children under 18) was about 1.3mln
at the end of last year, with the country’s total population being
3.2mln. people.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress