Citing ‘embarrassing’ admission statistics, PM says higher education reforms can no longer be delayed

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 12:26, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. PM Nikol Pashinyan says he believes that the launch of reforms in higher education can no longer be delayed.

“The embarrassing statistics of admission exams must become a strong signal for this,” the PM said at the Cabinet meeting. “This year over 60% of admission seat in universities remained vacant. Furthermore, in state universities more than 40% remained vacant while in private universities over 98%. Although there are some state universities where the statistics is similar to the private [university] indicators. We have state universities where the state allocated seats and 90, 92, 94 or 98% of these seats remained vacant,” Pashinyan said.

“There are no university standards or are non-functioning ones in the country. People with higher education diplomas are very often not competitive in the job market,” the PM said.

He said that the government plans to consolidate universities through integrating with certain scientific-research institutes, and to have maximum 8 state universities in the country. “These universities will be in line with international standards will full state funding, starting from educational, research, sports, dormitory infrastructures up to international educational programs and qualified and properly remunerated academic staff,” the PM said.

Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.

Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2022/09/03/citing-embarrassing-admission-statistics-pm-says-higher-education-reforms-can-no-longer-be-delayed/

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS