In our days, the existing educational system, namely general primary-secondary education and diversified professional education, Higher Educational as well as Scientific Institutions have enabled Armenia to develop engineering and machine-tool industries, electronics and radio electronics, power engineering and nuclear energy, biotechnology, astrophysics, chemical and light industries.
During the last 5-6 years, Armenia, with its 1500 years old history of education, has faced a problem of development of the national school and creating its peculiar system of education.
Our republic, which has limited natural resources,
on its way to the XXI Century can have considerable achievements
only by developing the scientific sphere. With this aim in view,
education acquires a special significance.
The system of education of the Republic of Armenia includes pre-school, general secondary, special secondary, vocational (professional-technical), higher and post-graduate education.
Pre-school education
will be realized through a network of establishments of different
kinds of ownership, by contributing to the normal growth of children,
to revealing their capabilities and shaping corresponding skills
to communicate with others.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia the secondary Education is compulsory and free of charge. Secondary Education in the republic contains 3 levels. Duration of study in secondary schools is 10 years.
The first level is Elementary School (1-3 grades). The basic goal of this level is to provide literacy for pupils.
The second level is Basic School (4-8 grades). The goal of secondary schools is implementation of general education. Students, who accomplish 8 grade, obtain the certificate of 8-year education (incomplete secondary education) and they can continue their study in the high school as well as in specialized secondary and technical secondary educational institutions.
The third level is High school (9-10 grades). The high school offers complete secondary education, which is realized in the following forms:
Graduate students of the high school obtain certificate of complete secondary education, which is called Attestat/Certificate of maturity "Hasunutian Vkaiakan" and can continue their study in the Higher educational institutions.
There are 1418 secondary schools, 1 gymnasium, 1
lyceum, 25 state colleges, 4 academic schools, 11 private high
schools, 15 private schools. There are deepened study forms in
197 high schools-colleges (74 -humanitarian, 68 - physics-mathematics,
53 - natural sciences, 22 economics) in the Republic of Armenia.
The admission into the specialized and technical
secondary educational institutions is possible on the basis of
8-year or 10-year secondary education. After graduation of courses,
defense of diploma research work and passing of state examinations
in the specialized secondary educational institutions students
earn the "technician" or other appropriate qualification,
in colleges - "junior specialist" (for example: junior
engineer and etc.)
There are both state and private institutions of
higher education. There are 15 (21 with branches) state higher
educational institutions in Armenia. There are close to 75 private
universities. As there is no law on education in Armenia the Ministry
of Education is the sole body for issuing accreditation to the
institutions.
All the state institutions are accredited. However
there isn't a clearly defined mechanism for the accreditation
of the private institutions. A private institution gets first
of all registered with the Ministry of Education or any other
Ministry depending upon the type of institution (e.g. A school
dealing with medicine would get registered with the Ministry of
Health). Then the school gets reviewed by a committee from the
Ministry with which it is registered. The committee reviews the
building where the school is located, the facilities, academic
plans, teachers (most of the teachers in the private institutions
also teach in the State ones), sanitary-hygienic conditions. IF
the institution complies with all the necessary conditions set
forth by the committee then it is given the license for functioning
and can already admit students.
However for getting a final accreditation the institution
should be functioning at least 5 years, should have a certain
number of teachers with PHD-s. Their graduates should have a minimum
of the required knowledge and a certain number of them should
find jobs upon completion of the institute. Yet because
of the absence of the law on education it is not clearly defined
which body is to check all these criteria and the compliance to
them. Hence most of the private institutions have just a license
to function.
The admission into the higher educational institutions
is being conducted on the base of 10-year education certificate
and results of admission examinations. There is 20-marks assessment
system in use (8 and more marks are positive).
Higher educational institutions in Armenia have three-level structure.
First level (baccalaureate)
includes 4 year-study in institutions (Universities). The main
objective is to acquire general knowledge in subjects of specialty
as well as to get acquainted with economics, history, philosophy,
law, medicine and other subjects. Upon completion of the 4 year
institution "Bakalavri kochum" that is Bachelor's degree
is awarded. The "Diplom" is awarded if it is a five
year institution.
Second level (magistracy) includes next 2 years of study. The objective is to acquire deepened knowledge in specialization subjects, to study additional specialization subjects. It can be either a one-year or a 2-year program. In both cases the student is awarded the Master's degree which in Armenian sounds "Magistrosi kochum" The Master's degree in Armenia is awarded only in the state institutions, the only exception is the American University of Armenia, which is a joint venture sponsored by the Diaspora Armenia foundations. However the degree of this institution (which is a campus of the UCLA) is recognized by the Republic of Armenia and is one of the best degrees in the Republic.
Third level ("aspirantura"
- post-graduate studentship) continues 2 years. Students acquire
necessary knowledge in order to conduct scientific-research work.
After completion of this level and defending the dissertation
the students are awarded the "Candidate of Science"
degree or in Armenian "Gitutiunneri Teknatsu"
After aspirantura and getting the Candidate of Science
degree the researchers can do their doctoral studies in one of
the research institutions of the Academy of Science of Armenia.
Unlike the US system the doctoral studies do not imply taking
any courses but it is mostly related to independent research work
leading to the defense of a Doctoral dissertation. The dissertation
is defended in front of the Highest Attestation Commission, an
independent body comprised of Doctors, academicians and professors
in the field.
As it can be deduced from the above mentioned there
still exists a division between the "Candidate of Science"
and "Doctor of Science" in Armenia. However the difference
is that the "Candidate of Science" "Gitutiunneri
teknatsu" can be obtained in the State institutions of higher
education as well as in the research institutions pertaining to
the system of the Academy of science. Whereas the Doctor of science
"Gitutiunneri Doctor", can be obtained only through
the Academy of Science research institutions.
Nowadays, there are 34,701 students at the Higher
Education Institutions in Armenia. Both free of charge and paid
higher education is available in Armenia. For 19,164 students
the education is free of charge (Governmental budget), and for
15,537 students the education is paid. In 1997-98 academic year
the cost for study is 200,000 - 800,000 Armenian drams ($1 =
500 AMD). The financial sources of Education are coming from i.
Governmental Budget, ii. Private sourses.
During the last 10 years more than 2000 foreign students
have graduated Armenian higher educational institutions and successfully
apply their knowledge in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe
and Asia.
Information provided by the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia. May, 1998.
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