On 12 June, the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport presented the “Draft Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2020-2022 for the Education sector, including the Applications for Budget Financing for 2020” for the discussion of the representatives of civil society organisations and experts of the education sector..
Members of the Armenian Educational Network and sectoral experts formed within the framework of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project had active and meaningful participation in the public debate as well.
In the first part of the public discussion, Ms Arevik Anapiosyan, Deputy Minister of MESCS presented the draft, expecting the suggestions and remarks of civil society representatives on it.
“We view education as a fundamental right, and therefore attach importance to universal, equally accessible, inclusive and quality education. As the main targets of sectoral policies, the draft outlines the provision of quality education and access to education,” Arevik Anapiosyan said.
“All of these targets are based on 8 budgetary expenditure programs: primary (craftsmanship) and secondary vocational education, higher and postgraduate education, general education, extracurricular education, safe school, education quality assurance, introduction of universal inclusive education system, international and Diaspora partnership in education development,” Arevik Anapiosyan noted.
Ms Lusine Arakelyan, Deputy Minister of MESCS and heads of relevant departments of the ministry also touched upon the issues raised by public organizations and experts.
Mr. Artashes Torozyan, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Educational Network, raised two issues: the dynamics of the state budget allocation for the solution of the accumulated problems in the VET sector in the coming years, in particular, emphasizing the prospects of raising the salaries of teachers and providing social package. Second, related to the kinds of budgetary allocations envisaged for introduction of a professional orientation counseling system in secondary schools in 2020-2022. In response to the first raised question, Mr. Artak Aghbalyan, Head of the Primary (Craftsmanship) and Vocational Education Department of MESCS of the RA said: “We have a clear commitment to the exit-budget support of VET institutions, and the relevant institutions will be assisted in the construction, improving the existing building conditions and replenishing the logistics base in its scope. As for career guidance centres in VET institutions, 50 institutions last year were provided and 95 institutions this year will be provided with budget support, and training of the specialists will be conducted. In response to the second question, Ms Suzanne Makyan, Acting Head of the Department of Public Education, said: “From 2012-2013 our ministry has begun working with the Center for Professional Orientation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. As a result, a methodology on the mode of work of the professional orientation centres was developed, what kind of trainings and of what context should the responsible persons pass. … This year the “Save the Children” organisation has begun to support us, and we have already established professional orientation centres in 10 general schools and should work and understand what we can do, what work we can conduct and what we can achieve it if we start working in this format. We do not have the means now; we do not plan in the budget, because, in fact, we do not know what investment is implied, if we establish it as a centre. We hope that after one year of work we will be able to make some conclusions, go through some monitoring, and then we will be able to understand what measures we need for the establishment and maintenance of a professional orientation centre at a school. If there are organisations, which will help us to create professional orientation centres in the format we started to work, we will be very happy. This is a very important and priority for us.”
Expressing gratitude for the active participation, the organisers of the meeting proposed to submit all proposals and comments on the draft in writing to the Ministry which, according to the responsible persons, would be discussed and taken into account.
