Over 140,000 Youths in Armenia Not Enrolled in Any Educational Program, Minister Reports

The field of vocational education and training seems to be the neglected child of the educational system, with its untapped potential and public undervaluation. This was stated by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, Zhanna Andreasyan, during parliamentary hearings on legislative reforms regarding vocational education and training.

According to the minister, the formal education system is the most flexible sector and responds the fastest to the needs of society and the economy. "In this area, we introduce several new vocational educational programs annually. The training for electric vehicles is starting to develop, and a profession for electric vehicle maintenance has been introduced. We have begun to utilize alternative energy sources and accordingly introduced the profession of solar power plant installation,” she highlighted.

The minister noted that today, unqualified labor is the most vulnerable segment of the workforce. "Numerous studies demonstrate how the risk of poverty, health issues, and many other concerns increases for these individuals and their families in the future," she remarked.

According to Andreasyan, obtaining vocational education becomes a serious and often unattainable challenge for many of these individuals. She also presented various statistical data, stating that according to the latest census data, more than 140,000 youths in Armenia are not enrolled in any educational programs.