YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: On September 24 the regular session of the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) named after Khachatur Abovyan was held, headed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the ASPU Council Chairman Tigran Sargsyan. As Armenpress was reported by the Information and PR Department of the Government of Armenia, during the session the report of the Foundation "National Center for professional education quality assurance" was discussed on the institutional accreditation test results implemented at the Armenian State Pedagogical University.

"We wish that the Pedagogical University, which successfully implements its reforms, becomes one of the leading institutions for higher education in the Republic. Currently we implement improvement reforms at the institutions for higher education in the country and it is clear that the lecturers should be on the first place. It means that the Pedagogical University should provide the entire educational field with highly professional specialists, who will be able to make root reforms in our educational system. I am certain that the progress of our country will be conditioned by these very reforms.

If we are able to achieve our goals, there will be new quality changes in the country due to the lecturers, whom you are preparing now", - said the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan. The Chairman of the Pedagogical University Council instructed to make phased and scheduled targeting of reforms and time to time discuss their implementation process.

According to the Prime Minister, currently the Pedagogical University has the opportunity to cooperate with international organizations and get technical assistance, so it should use its potential to prepare highly professional specialists.

During the session the issue of involving young lecturers in the Pedagogical University was discussed, whose number is currently scarce. On that occasion Tigran Sargsyan stated: "It is fact that one of the ways of attracting young scientists is the financing. Mr. Mirzakhanyan, in 2011 I recommended you to increase the salaries of the lecturers by 40%, what you did. But I think that this amount is not sufficient. I instruct you to raise the salaries of your lecturers by another 40% by the end of the year of 2012. We should continue the process of increasing the salaries, so that the young specialists want to cooperate with the Pedagogical University. They should understand that for their high quality skills they will be remunerated correspondingly".

On the instruction the Rector of the Armenian State Pedagogical University Ruben Mirzakhanyan stated that by the end of the current year the salaries of the 900 representatives of the professors and lecturers staff will be increased by 40%.

To the question concerning the building of the student dormitories the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan answered that in the program of the Government of Armenia, which was approved by the National Assembly of Armenia, that issue had been included. The Ministry of Education and Sciences of the Republic of Armenia currently works on the development of a clear program.

Concerning the observation of one of the students that at present the graduate cannot find a job, as the employer demands professional experience, the Minister of Education and Sciences of Armenia Armen Ashotyan informed that by the instruction of the Head of the Government they currently work on the legislative package, which will regulate the issue. The project intends to consider the educational years as working experience, which will facilitate the entrance of the young to the civil service and private sector.

The members of the Council of the Armenian State Pedagogical University expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan for the consistent assistance, provided to the University and personal contribution in the reforms implementation process.