On 30 April, the Public Council discussed issues, programs and prospects of the sector with Minister of Education and Science Araik Harutyunyan.

Mr. Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the Public Council, welcoming the first meeting of the Minister with the council members, proposed to start the discussion from the common problems, goals, principles and vision of the educational system and then to go through more specific issues and proposals.

Touching upon the issues of general education, the members of the Council raised the issue of the reputation of the school and teacher, parent-teacher relationships, content of curricula and textbooks, the need to introduce social science subjects, the development of aesthetic and sporting education, the distance learning system, the need for environmental education and culture, teachers’ salary rates, classroom density issues. Issues related to the high school, lack of state education development programs, the need for cooperation of private school-state, vocational education, higher education, pre-school education were also discussed.

In his turn, the Minister presented new programs of the Ministry, main directions and targets of the ministry, responded to the questions raised by the members of the council, touched upon the criticisms and proposals. Arayik Harutyunyan attached importance to cooperation with the Public Council and expressed readiness to meet regularly.