Your trusted source

"We aim to create equal conditions for preschool education for all children," Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan said at the parliament on Tuesday, presenting the draft law on making amendments to the law on preschool education in the second reading.

According to him, inclusiveness and accessibility have been ensured through reasonable adjustments.

"The priority groups for admission to a pre-school educational institution have been outlined, according to which children with disabilities of the first or second groups, children from families with three or more kids and children of servicemen can enjoy the priority right for admission to a preschool," he said.

According to the minster, preschool curriculum has been outlined, and a provision has been added regarding the medical care of children, according to which the preschool educational institution provides primary health care for children.

"The article on the organization of children's feeding in preschool educational institutions has been revised, provisions on children's rights have been added, compulsory health check-ups of pedagogical staff of preschool educational institutions at least once a year and their mandatory trainings have been stipulated," he said. Harutyunyan.

My Step faction MP Sofia Hovsepyan said, in turn, that the process of mandatory licensing of development centers are also regulated by the draft amendments.

"Until now, anyone could open a private enterprise and provide services, but no one controlled what kind of service it provided, because these organizations can only be opened for employment, but later they can provide preschool education. Under the draft law, it is forbidden; only after being granted a mandatory licensing will the organization be able to function as a preschool educational organization,” Hovsepyan said.

In addition, according to the MP, the process of compulsory training of pedagogues of preschools has been improved, with principals set to be certified at least once a year. Nurses and educators will be required to undergo trainings as well, she said.

"Whereas, that process is not being implemented at the moment, and it is stipulated that the training process should be carried once in 5 years. In addition, from now on nurses, educators and principals will be considered pedagogues, which has not been the case so far,” Hovsepyan said.