Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Congratulatory Message on Knowledge and Education Day

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of Knowledge and Education Day. He stated: “Dear students, teachers, and parents, I congratulate all of us on the occasion of Knowledge and Education Day.

In Armenia’s Strategy for Transformation until 2050, we have declared as a strategic goal to make education a national way of life and to substantiate why. Because education is the only tool through which a person recognizes problems and finds solutions to them. This assertion is true both for the individual and for society, which is a collective of people, and for the state.

Therefore, the agenda we have today in the fields of knowledge, understanding, skills, education, and science determines our ability to recognize problems and solve them. This also determines our place, role, and significance in the world.

I also emphasize the role of vocational education, which forms a comprehensive system of state and economic development along with preschool, general, and higher education.

Today, in Armenia, on one hand, we face serious issues of unemployment and poverty, while on the other hand, there is a lack of specialists. There is a high demand for qualified engineers, agronomists, financiers, as well as for chefs, welders, and mixers in our labor market, which cannot be met due to the shortage of specialists.

These phenomena, which are obstacles to human well-being and economic development, highlight the existing problems in the education system. This is why educational reforms are a top priority for the government.

We have already adopted state standards for preschool and general education, launched mechanisms to encourage high-quality pedagogical staff and the continuous improvement of pedagogical qualifications, which should be accompanied by salary increases. We have initiated significant changes in vocational and higher education and reformed the funding system for science.

One of our most important upcoming tasks is the reform of the pedagogical and military education systems. In addition, in the next five years, we plan to build or renovate about 500 kindergartens and 300 schools, creating modern scientific and engineering laboratories in all 1,400 schools across the republic.

The purpose of all this is clear: quality education must start from kindergarten and must be accessible to all children in all regions and communities, providing them the opportunity to continue their education in vocational and/or higher educational institutions.

From the perspective of continuity of education, I emphasize the importance of professional retraining and continuous qualification improvement processes, because the government envisions education as a lifelong process. In this context, I must also highlight the importance of retraining systems that correspond to labor market demands.

Dear students and pupils, due to the pandemic, this academic year we must strictly adhere to anti-epidemic rules to prevent schools and universities from becoming hotspots for virus transmission, which will allow for the regular implementation of the educational process.

Once again, I greet you all on this important day and wish us the will and ability to recognize our problems and solve them. Happy September 1!