During 2010 year Armenia will create 40 new higher schools in the country this year, Armenian Minister of Science and Education Armen Ashotyan said, according to Novosti-Armenia.
“There are now 48 higher schools working in Armenia, in 2010 more 40 higher schools will be created and another 40 in the following year. As a result, there will be about 150 higher schools working in Armenia,” Ashotyan said.
The minister has recalled that the process of creation of higher schools started in 2006 when a working group was created in the education ministry and the main principles of creating the system of higher schools were developed.
According to Ashotyan, the first strategy and pilot project on the introduction of the higher schools in Armenia was developed in 2008 and its realization started. According to the minister, there was no alternative to the creation of higher schools in Armenia because it was necessary upgrade the education system.
“We cannot guarantee acquisition of specialized education to every student in all of the 1,400 elementary schools in Armenia. No successful European country can guarantee this, but the introduced system of higher schools is already functioning in many countries. In some European countries, division and separate approach to the pupils begins from the 5th or 6th classes,” the minister said.
At the same time Ashotyan reminded that Armenia has no alternative to higher schools as there is no chance of returning to the old system. From the minister’s point of view, the introduction of the system of higher schools is necessary to solve genuine existing problems and to improve the situation.
“But it is impossible to expect that in two years we will record outstanding achievement,” he said.
The minister mentioned that to improve the quality of education a regime of certification for headteachers is being introduced in Armenia. As the education ministry chief explained, in order to become a headteacher, all applicants will pass exams and knowledge tests on the basis of which they will receive certificates. The qualifications will form the basis of the candidates participation in elections, Ashotyan said.
The World Bank has allocated a $1.6-million credit towards the introduction of the system of higher schools in 2010-14, and $400,000 more will come from the state budget.
The Armenian government supported the strategic program of creation of system of higher school on the March 27, 2008. The program includes creation of 150 higher schools focusing on 11 directions, particularly physics and mathematics, natural sciences, humanities and handicrafts.
