Armen Ashotyan, Minister of Education, outlines Armenia’s strengths in the education sector and the ministry’s strategies for future development.
European Times: What are your ministry’s chief goals?
Armen Ashotyan: Armenia has a long tradition of being very strong in education and science, even before the Soviet era. We have one of the best global rankings in education and are number one among CIS countries in the number of articles per capita published in scientific journals. Our children achieve the same Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) scores as Norwegian children although Norway’s spending per kid are six times bigger than Armenia’s. Our ministry’s two pillars are to maintain high-quality education as part of our national identity, and to build a modern educational system which prepares our young people for the demands of the 21st century. The Armenian education sector has seen constant reforms and this process will continue because education must remain open and flexible.
European Times: What are some recent developments in Armenia’s education system?
Armen Ashotyan: We have transformed the system from a Soviet type to a European one. We have instituted a 12-year general-education programme, which is not very common in the CIS region, and we have revitalised the system through public-private partnerships. Concerning higher education, Armenia has been part of the European higher-education area since 2005 and we are implementing the highest European standards and guidelines. Education is a great starting point for the integration of Armenia into Europe. Armenia was chosen in 2012 as a Secretary of European Higher Education Area to help coordinate higher education throughout Europe, and in 2015 one of the biggest educational summits in the world will be held in Yerevan. Armenia was also the first country to implement chess as an obligatory subject in all elementary schools, and we are ready to export our national brand in this regard. Thousands of children are playing chess not only as a game but as a tool for deeper strategic analysis and planning.
European Times: What are some of your goals for the future?
Armen Ashotyan: One of our priorities is to prepare a new generation of teachers who can take advantage of new technologies and combine them with traditional sciences. We want Armenians to understand how important it is to have the most qualified and capable teachers in our schools. We are working with many international organisations in education projects. We have student exchanges with EU countries and are part of the EU Erasmus Plus programme. We are not afraid of challenges.
