A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The government amended one of its previous decisions in order to improve the public standing of science, raise the living standards of Armenia’s scientific and engineering community, as well as to solve social problems. As Acting Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan noted, the decision provides for the rationing and establishment of the minimum wage for researchers participating in state programs of basic funding. According to the Acting Minister, a scale for the rationing of salaries for scholars, researchers and persons holding scientific positions will be introduced from January 1, 2022, which will lead to a gradual increase in wages until 2025.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the decision provides that the basic salary fund of scientific personnel will be quadrupled over the next three years: “First of all, with the teachers, there will be an attestation process so that we raise salaries not according to the staff list, but according to specific quality standards. This is an important feature. The next challenge is that researchers may be offered financial opportunities, not only as part of their base salary, but they will get income from case studies. In view of the above, depending on the academic discipline, research team and activity, the salaries of Armenian scientists will be more competitive on the labor market, and this can yield tangible results. We can state that a more attractive mechanism for raising the salaries of scholars and researchers is being launched, which should have a positive effect not only on science, but also on the economy as a whole. This is a key decision which has been discussed for quite a long time. This year we have taken two such decisions.”

The government approved the State Educational Standard for Preschool Education. The standard is based on the ability-based approach. The standard is the basis of child-centered education, It provides an opportunity to respond to children’s needs and interests and promotes the process of cooperative learning.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the decision states that preschool education is an integral part of education: “Preschool education should help children make a smooth transition to the system of general education. Children must acquire specific knowledge and skills in kindergarten, and this standard is supposed to streamlines them.”

The government decided that the budget of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports shall be increased by 500 million drams in 2021. Funds will be provided to the Urban Development Committee for construction of modular buildings for 5 schools with a small number of students. In particular, 1 such school will be built in Gegharkunik Marz, 2 schools - in Shirak Marz, and 2 schools - in Vayots Dzor Marz,

The government approved a bill on amending the RA Law on Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights.

The bill seeks to streamline the relationship between medical services and assisted reproductive technologies, increase the opportunities for infertile couples or individuals to use assisted reproductive technologies and improve the demographic situation.

There are a number of restrictions in the current law that prevent the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies, which may play a role in improving the demographic situation. In particular, the applicable law provides for the same professional and equipment requirements for two different services provided with assisted reproductive technologies. The draft suggests adding a paragraph to separate the implementation of these two services within the framework of different types of services, which will allow the development of reproductive medicine in the provinces and in urban out-patient clinics.