Nikol Pashinayn states the government intends to expand universities and to have only eight state-consolidated universities

11:33
1 սեպտեմբեր, 2022

Nikol Pashinayn states the government intends to expand universities and to have only eight state-consolidated universities

The government will allocate 2 billion 232 million AMD for the implementation of construction works for educational, sports, and cultural institutions and to ensure their property adequacy. The corresponding decision is included in the agenda of today’s government meeting.

With the allocation mentioned, it is planned to build kindergartens in the Getashen, and Lenughi communities of Armavir, and a heating system will be installed in the Rya Taza community school. In addition, the heating system of the National Library of Armenia will be modernized, and 713 million AMD will be directed to the reparation of the gymnasiums of public schools.

It is planned to carry out construction works in Yerevan Tekeyan primary school No. 37, primary school No. 136, Sardarapat secondary school, Pshatavan, and Verin Getashen secondary schools.

At the beginning of the session, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan congratulated on the Day of Knowledge, then emphasized that the shameful statistics of university entrance exams should become a strong impetus for the implementation of reforms.

Pashinyan mentioned that 60 percent of university seats were vacant.

“Our universities often do not meet international standards in terms of physical infrastructure and educational level, either there are no standards in the universities or they are not functioning. People with a diploma of higher education are often not competitive in the labor market,” Pashinyan stated, stressing that the government intends to go through enlargement of universities, merging with some scientific research institutes, and the goal is to have only eight consolidated state universities.

“They will be adjusted to international standards,” Pashinyan assured.

He said that the government has decided that the academic city will be built in Ashtarak, Aragatsotn, and the new universities will be moved there. The head of the executive noted that if such decisions are not made, the state will face a disaster.

Pashinyan reminded that according to the pre-election program, they should build 300 schools and 500 kindergartens by 2026.