Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Government Discusses Public Agencies Performance Reports for 2015
Chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, the Government started hearings of public agencies’ performance reports on the Government’s action plan and priorities for 2015. Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan and Chairman of State Committee on Science by the Ministry of Education and Science Samvel Harutyunyan submitted reports on the programs and the results recorded in the reporting period.
Armen Ashotyan informed that construction activities aimed at establishing new pre-school facilities for about 1,450 children had been carried out in 33 institutions of Kotayk, Shirak and Gegharkunik provinces. 719 first-year students were allocated 50-100% tuition reimbursements to a total sum of over 496 million drams. 1379 bachelor degree students got tuition fee reimbursements to an aggregate amount of AMD 307 million. In addition, 52 MA degree students received compensations during the academic year of 2015-2016.
The process of reorganizing State-run SNCO universities into foundations was continued. Currently 16 State-run universities have a foundation’s status. The system aimed at ensuring sustainable catering in schools was expanded. The program includes more than 12 thousand students, of which 2 386 in Vayots Dzor, 6 052 in Syunik Marz, 13 618 in Ararat Marz. With a view to developing robotics, robotics clubs were set up in 47 public schools of Armenia.
In turn, Samvel Harutyunyan reported that all the problems and priority programs of SCS were implemented during the previous year. The Government will soon sign an agreement with the European Commission regarding Armenia’s participation in the Horizon 2020 program, by which Armenia will be integrated into the European research area as a full member that will allow our scientists to participate in European programs and grant competitions.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister stressed that the development of education and science has always been a priority for his government. He singled out a number of scientific and educational achievements had in the course of 2015, including the Ministry’s involvement in the Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary commemorations, thanks to which the Genocide was included in school and university curricula in a number of European countries.
The Head of Government hailed the fact that the ministerial summit of the European Higher Education Area was held in Yerevan last year, as well as Yerevan’s being proclaimed as the all-European educational capital. Speaking about the new subjects introduced in schools, Hovik Abrahamyan emphasized the importance of Microelectronics.
The Premier stressed the importance of the unprecedented record of success in international Olympiads (21 medals). The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of 2015. Ministerial Summit held in the European Higher Education Area, as well as of the fact of declaring European educational capital.
According to Hovik Abrahamyan, the scope of State-funded welfare programs was enlarged in higher education. In particular, the Government financed bachelor and master degree programs for thousands of students to benefit from State support. A tuition fee reimbursement program was implemented for those students who had been on combat duty during their military service.
Appreciating the work done in the period under review, Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the Ministry of Education and Science managed to solve all the proposed tasks and implement a number of key development projects.
