Today, the regular Cabinet meeting took place, chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The Government approved the procedure and amount of the change in the rate and the defining of the additional payment for certified or classified pedagogical employees of vocational educational institutions. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia has already launched the process of training and certefication of pedagogical employees of educational institutions implementing vocational and secondary vocational educational programs in 4 areas (jewelry, cooking, agriculture and information technologies). The training process has been completed, and the certification was carried out on November 30. As a result of the certification, teachers who have shown the following results will receive additional payments according to the relevant draft decision: 90-100 percent certification, 80-89 percent certification, 70-79 percent certification. As noted by the Minister of Education, Scienc, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, about 361 employees working in colleges have been trained in these 4 areas. The results will be published on December 6. However, according to the minister, the preliminary results show that many have successfully passed the certification process. "With this draft government decision, we define the forms of incentives for certified employees, which are similar to the incentive system for teachers of general education schools. In particular, the rate for employees who have shown a result of 60-69 percent is set at 200 thousand drams. In case of recording results of 70 percent and higher, in addition to the rate, additional payments are also applied. In case of 70-79 percent - a 30 percent surcharge, in case of 80-89 percent and more - a 40 percent surcharge, and in case of 90-100 percent results - a 50 percent surcharge, which is added to the rate of 200 thousand drams. "In addition, I should note that if there is an additional regulation on the minimum salary of teachers in schools, there is no such thing here, and salaries in this system were much lower. Often, teachers received a salary equivalent to the minimum salary, and here we will more than double the salary of pedagogical workers in this system," said Zhanna Andreasyan.

Regarding the decision, the Prime Minister noted that as a result of all the actions being taken, in fact, a 200 percent increase in the additional payment may occur this year and next year. Responding, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport noted that after summing up the official results of the actual changes in teachers' salaries will be published by the end of the year, and emphasized that an increase of up to 200 percent is quite likely.

The Government adopted a decision, according to which the program for leasing support for agri-food sector equipment in the Republic of Armenia envisages relevant amendments and additions. As a result, communities will also have the opportunity to benefit from the program, the circle of beneficiaries willing to provide services within the framework of the program in settlements in need of slaughterhouse services will be expanded, and monitoring of the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by the beneficiary providing slaughterhouse services will be ensured.

Referring to the decision, Nikol Pashinyan noted: "With this decision, firstly we are making communities beneficiaries of the leasing program, and they can participate in the program in all respects. In other words, what is intended for other beneficiaries, communities can also obtain within the framework of this program. And we place special emphasis on mobile slaughterhouses. Our regional governors must determine and confirm that there is a need for a slaughterhouse in certain settlements."

By the government's decision, 3 billion 845 million 273 thousand drams will be allocated from the 2024 budget to the regionala dministrations of the Republic of Armenia for co-financing subsidy programs. Money will be allocated for financing 50 programs in 30 communities. As a result of the decision, a total of 25.8 billion drams has been allocated from the state budget for co-financing programs this year.

Referring to the implementation of subsidy programs, the Prime Minister emphasized: “Quality control is of key importance for us, and once again I want to express my gratitude to all law-abiding taxpayers of the Republic of Armenia, who first work, create results, and then pay the taxes prescribed by law.”

By government decision, Argishti Mekhakyan was appointed Governor of Armavir.