Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Government discussed the budget allocation bid for FY2020, submitted by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The discussion revolved around the priorities, primary tasks and the planned activities to be implemented as part of reforms in 2020. The meeting first focused on the problems faced in the field of general education and the ways of dealing with them. Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Araik Harutyunyan advised that certification and training programs will be organized for teachers to increase the effectiveness of educational institutions in 2020. Work is underway to change high school programs and increase their effectiveness. Discussions are being held over academic subjects and curricula.

Reference was made to capital expenditures for educational institutions and to the activities of pre-school institutions. In this connection, Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that pre-school institutions are supposed to help the state provide parents with the opportunity to work. On the other hand, children should start the learning process from pre-school institutions. “We need an educational program that promotes development in order to give people as many skills as possible,” the Premier said.

The meeting next touched on the activities of cultural institutions and facilities: museums, theaters, musical groups and the revitalization of their activities. The Prime Minister prioritized the effective functioning of cultural centers in terms of increasing their own revenues that will make it possible to attract resources other than the budget funds, expand the scope of activities and address the existing problems.

Coming to science, the speakers reported that state-of-the-art equipment and about two dozen labs had been refurbished over the past one year owing to the funds allocated by the government. The funds earmarked to science will grow by 17% next year, up to the mark of 1.5 billion drams, which is an unprecedented amount as compared to the appropriations made so far. Specific criteria for assessing the activities of scientific institutions shall be introduced in 2020. Over 4 billion drams will be spent to develop sports and a healthy lifestyle. The car park optimization process will be continued. The Ministry currently has 8 service vehicles instead of the former 19.

Highlighting the ongoing optimization efforts, the Prime Minister issued specific instructions to that effect.