Armenian language class hours to be increased in Armenian schools of Georgia next year

October 16, 2010 - 14:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan and his Georgian counterpart Dmitry Shashkin signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries' ministries.

"The memorandum will supplement the juridical basis between our countries. There are innovations in it related to programs for 1-1.5 year. Armenia is obliged to assist the Armenian education in Georgia and provide the Armenian schools of Georgia with material and technical basis. At the same time, Georgia will assist the activity of centers of the Georgian education in Armenia," Minister Ashotyan said.

The Georgian Minister said for his part that the Armenian schools play a great role in the education sector of Georgia. "The number of Armenian language lessons is reduced temporarily, until a new education plan comes into force. Currently the Armenian and Georgian languages class hours are equal in the Armenian schools. However, they will be increased next year," he said.

At the same time, Shashkin noted that some Armenian schools have been subjected to optimization, like 50 Georgian schools, due to very small number of students. Shashkin expressed belief that students of these schools will get higher quality education in big schools.

The Minister added none of the closed schools teachers has become unemployed.