«Zeytun» Dormitory to Accommodate 400 Students, Says Zhanna Andreasyan

The «Zeytun» dormitory, intended for students of all universities in Armenia, is currently in a deplorable condition but continues to serve over 200 students. This was stated by Armenia's Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, during a question and answer session with the government in the National Assembly.

She mentioned that the state budget for Armenia has allocated funds for the renovation of the dormitory, which will enable accommodation for double the number of students, reaching 400. “The design work has already been completed, and we need to move on to the construction bidding phase. Funding is planned to begin in January 2024. Our strategy is to also double the number of international students, which is why we need to proceed with the construction of the Academic City rapidly,” the minister declared.

She was responding to a question from Gevorg Papoyan, a member of the “Civil Contract” faction in the National Assembly, regarding the accommodation issues arising from the increase in the student population in Armenia.

“This is particularly problematic against the backdrop of rising real estate prices. Meanwhile, some universities in Armenia either do not have their own dormitories or they are not in proper condition,” noted the parliamentarian.

Zhanna Andreasyan acknowledged that this is indeed a systemic issue, and it will be addressed in the long term through the Academic City project, which is designed to provide a comprehensive complex for both students and faculty.

The minister also announced that starting September 1, the monthly scholarship for students from the provinces studying in pedagogical and scientific fields in Armenian universities has increased to 70,000 drams. According to the minister, this amount will allow students to direct resources towards addressing such social issues.