YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Newly appointed Education and Science Minister Levon Mkrtchian gave his first press conference on Monday. Outlining the development of the Ministry’s activities– Mkrtchian focused on two issues–methods to work with various strata of the population–and verification of the decision making process.
Mkrtchian said the system of education should be improved. He reported that nearly four years have been spent on the law on education. He praised the law and said only small adjustmen’s were needed to be made.
With regard to problems concerning higher educational institutions–Mkrtchian stated that their quality has declined over the past years. He said the rapid growth of private higher educational institutions may have serious consequences.
Mkrtchian also emphasized the Ministry-City-Hall-Marzpetaran cooperation. He excluded experimen’s in the educational system–and said structural changes demanded further study of the system.
Asked about the reoperation of Russian schools–Mkrtchian recalled the law on language–the terms of which should be observed.
He reported that the World Bank has granted loans to Armenia for textbook publication.
Additionally–Mkrtchian said–"Bedsides ministerial responsibilities I have to carry out another responsibility. I am an Armenian Revolutionary Federation member–and the first representative of the party in the cabinet after a long break."
Mkrtchian reported that the ARF has devised an education program.