RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan met with Lebanese-Armenian educational community

Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia Armen Ashotyan on November 25 had a meeting with Lebanese-Armenian university students and educated members of society. The meeting was organized by Haigazian University.

During the meeting, Minister Ashotyan presented the main goals of Armenia's Ministry of Education and the major programs that have been implemented. According to the minister, there are currently 34 universities in Armenia and the top international school of will be established in Dilijan on September 1, 2013. Minister Ashotyan also mentioned that a lot of effort is being made to raise the level and quality of education in Armenia and underlined that Armenia is "trying to change students' mindset regarding the educational system...". Noting that he was in Lebanon at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart, Minister Ashotyan informed that 120 Armenian and Lebanese schools would receive laboratory equipment as a gift from Armenia.

On the same day, Armen Ashotyan had a meeting with principals and teachers of Armenian schools of Lebanon at the Armenian Embassy. In his welcoming speech at the meeting, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan informed that this was Minister Ashotyan's first official visit to Lebanon, presented Ashotyan, after which Ashotyan said the ministries of both countries had officially signed agreements and had discussed several issues related to education and science.

In his speech, Minister Ashotyan emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia is working on making sweeping educational reforms to raise quality and has already managed to achieve results. He also said the purpose of all this was to prepare the generations that would work for the reinforcement and prosperity of the homeland.

After Ashotyan's speech, principals of Armenian schools in Lebanon and representatives of educational boards presented the issues and hardships facing their respective schools. Then, Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan had a meeting with the community's media outlets.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the problems with philological materials.

They express concerns about Turkey's interference in Lebanon's educational sphere and their propaganda.

The gathered expressed satisfaction with the ministry's provision of laboratory equipment for 120 state schools in Lebanon. There was also a proposal to organize Lebanese students' visit to Armenia so that they get acquainted with the level of education and opportunities in Armenia and to have Armenian experts and students visit Lebanon to get acquainted with Lebanon's educational programs.

The sides also discussed the issue of opening foreign schools in Armenia. The minister gave explanations and stressed their importance for Armenia, "Azdak" daily reports.