The Armenian government is launching a new phase of reforms in the cultural sector. with the introduction of the certification system, the salary of museum employees will increase by 57 percent on average, with the aim of solving the problem of the lack of young personnel.

On May 27, the executive approved the redistribution project in the state budget, allocating 151.8 million drams for the implementation of this cultural initiative. According to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, the main goal of the program is the introduction of an interrelated, effective mechanism for professional development and salary growth in the museum sector.

Low wages in the sector have led to serious systemic challenges. The minister emphasized that unattractive financial conditions limit professional growth, reduce the interest of young professionals and create significant risks for the quality of museum management and preservation. In order to solve the problem, a new certification procedure has already been developed and approved, which involves checking professional knowledge and skills in written and oral stages.

The process will start in July, and employees who successfully pass it will receive corresponding bonuses. It is planned that the average monthly salary of the specialists included in the eight job groups will be around 200 thousand drams. As an additional social guarantee, most certified employees will also have access to a health insurance package. Next, it is planned to introduce a similar mechanism in the library system.

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