ArmInfo. In the near future, in connection with the revision of state standards of general education in Armenia, curricula and textbooks will soon be changed. Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Arevik Anapiosyan stated this at a press conference on August 30.
She stated that the possibilities of changing the school hours, teaching method, grading system, etc. are also being considered. As for the subjects that will affect these changes, in particular, it is about teaching the mother tongue, literature, social sciences (social studies, history of Armenia , Church history, world history, modern history), foreign languages (English, Russian, German, French), art (music, visual arts), physical education.
Anapiosyan noted that work to change education standards began in May 2019. The new system in some subjects will be implemented from September 2020. "We hope that by this time we will have time to fully develop a teaching strategy, as well as carry out retraining of teachers," she said. The deputy minister also said that teachers will not be reduced in connection with future changes.
According to the deputy minister, in developing a learning strategy, representatives of the Ministry of Education, as well as local and international experts, proceeded from what knowledge and skills a person who graduated from school should have and what he needs most in life. "We have already developed a strategy about what kind of skills a child should have after graduating from primary, secondary and high school. Experts from Armenia and also invited international experts participated in our work.
During creation a new training plan, the experience of the USA, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Ireland, etc., was studied, "Anapiosyan emphasized, noting that the most suitable education plan for Armenia was drawn up from all these methods.
Anapiosyan stated that the main curriculum will also be changed. According to her, the load of students will decrease. Moreover, the number of school lessons will be determined based on the age of the schoolchildren. "As you know, in the upper grades of many schools, there is a division into the humanitarian and technical areas. But it also happens that the schoolchild needs to deeply study one of the technical subjects, and one of the humanitarian. Now, thanks to our new program, the schoolchild can choose the subjects that he needs to study in depth, "the deputy minister said.
She noted that EU funding also included a review of item standards. As a result, in state secondary schools (grades 1-12), subject curricula in the natural sciences, technologies, engineering, and mathematics will be changed, educational materials for grades 5-12 will be changed, and new and modern teaching methods will be introduced.