IBRD to provide additional loan to Armenia to improve education sector

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will provide an addition loan worth 22.6 million Euros to Armenia for improving the education sector.

During today’s Parliament session Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Artur Martirosyan presented the draft on ratifying “Additional Financing of the Education Improvement Project” loan agreement between Armenia and IBRD.

The deputy minister said the agreement envisages expanding the directions that existed within the Education Improvement loan project – 5 package actions that are fully in accordance with the Armenian government’s 2021-2026 action plan.

“According to the first action, 4 high schools will be renovated and reconstructed and will be equipped. The talk concerns Yerevan’s N139 high school, and the high schools of Ashtarak, Artashat and Vanadzor towns.

According to the second action, a new laboratory will be built in 200 general educational facilities based on needs assessment. According to the government’s action plan, modern biological and engineering laboratories must be created in all 1400 schools of the republic by 2026. 107 such laboratories have been built in 107 schools according to the previous action plan.

According to the third action, 80 preschools must be created. It is also envisaged to renovate the areas of preschools, purchase necessary equipment and train a preschool teacher. The preschools will meet the inclusive education standards.

According to the fourth action, the data visualization tools and peculiarities will be identified and tested. The talk is about raising the efficiency of education management information system.

The fifth action is directed to the higher education system. It is planned to implement five STEP (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) projects which will contribute to increasing the quality and efficiency of educational activities of universities, developing the management system, modernizing professional educational programs and teaching methods, conducting research works in the study process, as well as developing ties with the labor market”, Martirosyan stated.