IT IS NECESSARY TO WORK OUT NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO RAISE QUALITATIVE LEVEL OF ARMENIAN SCHOOLS OF DIASPORA, RESPONSIBLE FOR AGBU EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007
YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. It is necessary to work out new
educational programs to raise the qualitative level of Armenian schools
of Diaspora as because of absence of such programs those schools
today face a number of problems. Artun Hamalian, the Responsible for
the Education Department of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) stated about it at the April 6 conference held in Yerevan,
dedicated to education problems of Diaspora.
In his words, the AGBU has about 20 everyday and the same number of
Saturday schools in different colonies of Diaspora. It was mentioned
that if the number of students studying at those schools made about 7
thousand in 1990s, then according to 2007 data, the number of pupils
reduced 2-2.5 thousand.
Whereas, in A. Hamalian’s words, more than 1.5 mln Armenian children at
the school age live in Diaspora. "Numerous parents find it purposeful
to send their children for education to non-Armenian schools, reasoning
that education programs in Armenian schools do not correspond to
demands of the time," A. Hamalian mentioned.
Yervand Zorian, the AGBU California branch head stated that CDs in
Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian, English and Russian will be
released in future, in which the Armenian people’s history and culture
will be presented. "I think that those CDs will give possibility to
return Armenian education institutions a great number of children,"
Y. Zorian emphasized.