EDUCATION BUDGET 25% DOWN

news.am
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

A 12.8% reduction in the education and science budget is planned for
next year as compared with this year – 95bn AMD against 108bn AMD
respectively, RA Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan
told reporters.

It should be noted that the comparison deals with the actually executed
2009 budget, otherwise a 24.7% reduction would be in question –
the most substantial reduction in financing.

The Minister reported the reason for the reduced financing of the
education system — 19,600 less students next year than this year.

The Minister stated that the reduction in financing will not affect
teachers’ salaries. Primary schools will be provided with free
textbooks. A total of 120m AMD will be allocated for free textbooks
for children from socially vulnerable families. The financing of
Armenian science will not actually be reduced.

The 2010 defense budget will be reduced by 20%, and the public health
budget by 17%.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress