ARMENIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY TO FIGHT PRIVATE TUTORS, VOWS TO ENHANCE SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALITY

ARKA
June 16, 2009

YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Education Ministry will fight
private tutors by upgrading the secondary education quality, RA
Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan was quoted as saying.

"High-quality secondary education enables students to enter
universities without having to pay huge sums of money to private
tutors," the minister added.

He stressed that Armenia had made progress by implementing the high
school system.

Around 10 high schools are currently operating in Armenia. Another 42
high schools will open in the country this year, with their number
increasing by 50 from 2010. The first ten high schools are part of
a pilot project.

Ashotyan emphasized low-quality higher education in Armenia. "The
local higher education system contradicts market rules, with annual
tuition fee exceeding $1,000," the minister added.

He believes "no educational reforms will ever help upgrade higher
education" if the society does not change its attitude towards
education quality.