YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Armenian comprehensive school may become a competitive institution for training labor force and it may acquire regional significance. Receiving education here may become a guarantee of getting a prestigious and competitive position in the future. This idea was the focal point of the forum on "Elementary and Secondary Educational System Meeting Market Deman’s" organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia (AmCham in Armenia) on July 24. According to ArmCham’s Board of Directors President Thomas Samuelian–cooperation between the private economic sector and the system of general education may contribute to the establishment of the school. The possibility of this cooperation was among the subjects discussed during the forum.
Milia Alin–a UNDP expert–presented the "Study of theEducational Sphere". The Study suggests redeveloping educational programs–retraining teachings staffs–developing a new common evaluation system–rationalizing the number of schools–etc.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia Robert Zargarian said much is being done to further develop Armenia’s educational system. He mentioned the opening of 500 computer class-rooms–and 18 new schools this year.
According to Director of the Center of Educational Programs of the Ministry of Education and Science Karine Haroutiunian–the educational system suffers from insufficient and disproportional financing–shortcomings in legislative regulation and management–shortage of personnel–and many other difficulties. However–she proposed ways of overcoming these difficulties.
The possibilities of private companies and public organizations working in the educational sphere and educational establishmen’s themselves to solve the problems existing in the sector were also presented during the forum.