ArmInfo. The allocations for education and science, according to the draft budget for 2019, increased by 8.8 billion drams - from 129.3 billion drams to 138.1 billion drams, said on November 5 at a joint meeting of parliamentary commissions on financial and credit and budget issues and on issues of education, science and culture, said the.
Atom Janjughazyan, Minister of Finance. In particular, according to the Acting Head of the Ministry of Finance, the planned expenditures on the sphere as a whole increased by 12% and, although the figure increased in nominal terms, due to the forecasted higher GDP growth rates, the ratio of the above expenditures to the gross domestic product decreased by 0.09% from 2.17 % to 2.08%.
Himself acting Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia, Araik Harutyunyan, presenting the planned allocations of the sphere, noted that in many aspects the field of education is "overblown". "At present, there is a need to optimize the activities of both secondary vocational and university education, as well as science, elimination of duplicate specialties. As Harutyunyan stated, they studied the experience of Germany, which also had a similar bloated university system, where in the 1990s reforms were carried out.
German experts themselves, he admitted, were surprised that there are more than 60 universities in Armenia. Nevertheless, the Ministry will try to gradually eliminate all unnecessary and duplicate aspects, and since the "Budget" This is essentially an inertial factor, and, if necessary, it will be possible to make changes already in the process of its implementation and the introduction of new programs.To date, programs have been suspended with a budget of about 1 billion drams and a more optimal system for distributing and spending these funds is being considered.
According to the presented project, it is planned to allocate 8.8 billion drams more for the implementation of the programs scheduled for today, next year. The increase is expected in a number of areas: approximately twice as many funds will be spent on solving problems in the general education sphere - in the amount of 4.3 billion drams. Their ministry will spend on issues related to the effective organization of the sphere, the development of STEM-education and robotics. Primary (VET) and secondary special education in 2019 will receive 11,685 million drams, against 10.265 million drams in the current year. Through Higher and postgraduate education, allocations will be reduced by 0.2% or 20.5 million drams - to 10.351 million drams. Within the framework of the joint program "Improving Education" with the World Bank, 2.8 billion drams will be allocated for overhaul in a number of schools. In the direction of providing school students with textbooks next year, instead of the current 807.3 million drams, about 1.1 billion drams will be sent. In the area of scientific research, technical engineering studies will exceed expenditures by 0.6% or 67.4 million drams - up to 12, 127.3 million drams. 1,590.5 million drams will be allocated for the implementation of the "Universal Inclusive Education" program, against 887.8 million drams, and 2,197.3 million drams will be allocated to the "Secured School" program instead of the current 1,170.1 million drams
In particular, according to Harutyunyan, an increase in the efficiency of the secondary education system is expected. With the assistance of the EU, 8 hubs of intermediate professional level will be built in Stepanavan and Vanadzor. In technical schools and colleges will be strengthened base for practical training. The results, as indicated by. Minister, will be obvious in 4-5 years. The Ministry of Education and Science in 2019 will also try to increase the authority of teachers. According to Harutyunyan, over the years, the role of the teacher has been systematically and deliberately underestimated.
As for solving the problem of the shortage of teachers in remote areas, then, as Araik Harutyunyan said, following his visit to Germany, today he is more calm about it. As reported by the. Minister, even there, there is a shortage of qualified personnel in the suburbs. "In Germany, they are trying to solve the issue through the development of distance learning. We can also try this option," he noted.