News - EU budget support program in Armenia education discussed

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan and Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan met with the Head of the European (EU) Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, to discuss the education component of the EU budget support program. The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports highlighted the importance of continued cooperation with the EU in the context of reforms in Armenia’s education sector, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. Andreasyan emphasized that at the moment, reforms in public education and the introduction of a new standard are carried out in the country, with the support of the EU. Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan also stressed the importance of cooperation with the EU, and expressed hope that the mutual commitment to deepen it will give new momentum to the implementation of current and upcoming initiatives in Armenia. Ambassador Maragos emphasizing their successful cooperation with Armenia, and expressed his willingness to join efforts to develop it. Also, Maragos lauded the extensive school construction work being carried out by the Armenian government, noting that the EU is also considering the possibility of assisting Armenia in this process. During the discussion, it was noted that the EU budgetary support allocated to Armenia will be continuous, in which the share intended for the country’s education sector will be around 5 million euros. The parties reflected also on the assistance programs for forcibly displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly the assessment of their educational needs, the priority steps implemented by the Armenian state, and the long-term solutions that are planned. The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports stressed the continued support of the EU in addressing the needs of these refugees. The interlocutors discussed some other matters of bilateral interest as well, and expressed readiness to make joint efforts to make the current Armenia-EU cooperation more effective.