ArmInfo.The holding of the International Subject Olympiad in Biology in Armenia in 2022 will help equip local schools with modern equipment. As Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan said at a budget hearing in the parliament on October 31, hundreds of laboratories will be acquired for the competition to be transferred to school institutions.
Harutyunyan informed that in 2020 the budgetary financing of the ministry will amount to 179.5 billion drams, of which 2.2 billion drams will be allocated to support the apparatus, 145 billion drams to the education sector, and 12.6 billion drams to science. Another 12.9 billion drams were used in the field of culture and 4 billion drams will be used to develop sports. In general, budget financing of the education sector will increase by 18.9 billion drams. Part of the additional budget increase will be directed to a 10% increase in teacher salaries. The Minister also said that the budget plans to almost 2.5 times increase the payment of compensation for transportation costs to teachers and students. This item of expenditures in 2020 will be about 200 million drams.
He also reminded that due to the increase in tax collections, it was possible to implement a program worth over 800 million drams, under which engineering laboratories are being created in schools. It is expected that these works will cover up to 50% of local schools.
The Office will continue to implement programs aimed at improving the conditions in secondary schools. Schools in 22 communities of the country will be repaired. In the coming years, the number of preschool educational institutions will also be increased. According to Harutyunyan, in 2020 it is planned to overhaul 8 agricultural colleges.
The Minister drew attention to the fact that investment programs worth 2.5 billion drams were implemented this year. <We have ready-made draft programs for 2020-2021, requiring financing in the amount of 28 billion drams. If there are additional budget revenues that can be directed to our sphere, we will be able to immediately provide existing projects for implementation>, he said.
To recall, on July 10, at a closed meeting, the Armenian government approved a medium-term spending program for 2020-2022. According to the program, economic growth is projected to average 5% per annum. Growth will mainly be driven by growth in services and industry. So, in 2019, a 5.4% growth is forecasted, against the budgeted 4.9%, and during 2020-2022. – 4.9%, 5% and 5.1%, respectively.