Fewer students has positive aspects as well – Manuk Mkrtchyan
The deadline for applying for entrance examinations at higher schools has expired.
In an interview with Tert.am, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science Manuk Mkrtchyan said that the entrance examinations will begin next month.
Mr Mkrtchyan, the number of student is decreasing year by year. Are there fewer youths or are they showing less preference for higher schools?
Both factors. There is a third factor as well. On the one hand, the number of students is decreasing. On the other hand, they have ample opportunities – vocational schools, colleges, the Russian-Armenian University, the French University, the European Academy, the American University of Armenia. They start examinations in March. Many of the applicants that have tried to get into the American University, do not make a second attempt, which has its effect. When we created a senior high school network, the students that did not take much interest in going to higher schools, remain in their schools. One of the strong points of the senior high school network is that ninth-graders are supposed to change their schools, which makes them think of their further career. Some of the students go to colleges, which has its impact on the number of students. They are positive factors.
How many percent has the number of students decreased over the past five years, for example?
It is quite high. If we see the number of examination centers, we had more than 40 of them five years ago, whereas this year we have only 34. We should take a positive view of it because if a student goes to a higher school for no special reasons, it is worse than his or her going to college or to a higher school as a conscious choice.
Tuition fees are being raised year by year. It is not an additional factor?
No, it is not. For example, students applying to the Faculty of Law do not care about money. Other schools do not set high tuition fees. I know a few cases when a student did not go to a higher school because of the tuition fee.
The decision on 12-year compulsory education has been made. How beneficial is it to the education system? The decision has evoked varied responses.
12-year compulsory education does not mean one must attend school for 12 years. It is a 12-year compulsory comprehensive education program under which ninth-graders leaving school must necessarily go to vocational schools or colleges. Wherever students go, they will have to receive 12-year comprehensive education besides professional training. The strong point of the program is that this 12-year education is free as the government requires that a child receive 12-long comprehensive education. So colleges are free, which is of great social benefit.
Mr Mkrtchyan, by corrupted systems people first of all mean the health and education systems. What’s being done to improve the situation?
We have greatly improved the situation. And I am saying it not because I am deputy minister. Children can now enter higher schools easier than in the past. Those who fail entrance examinations can apply again and find higher schools where they could continue their education. It saves money for their parents.
We have greatly reduced corruption risks, but it would be wrong to say that this problem can easily be resolved.
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