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According to the initial version of the draft RA law on the 2024 RA State Budget, 333 billion 989 million AMD is planned for the implementation of the budget programmes in the fields of education, science, culture and sport of the RA, which is 83 billion 721 million AMD or 33.5% more than the current year's financial allocation. The RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan said this during the working debate held on July 11 in the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport.

The working debate was chaired by the Committee Chair Sisak Gabrielyan. The Deputy Chair of the Committee Taguhi Ghazaryan, the members of the Committee Hakob Aslanyan, Narek Babayan, Lilit Galstyan, experts in the field, and the representatives of the Ministry took part in it.

According to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, that additional sum of 83 billion AMD will be directed to the field of education. A number of important programmes will be implemented, including the school construction programme. Design work for all the institutions will be completed by the end of this year.

The Committee Chair Sisak Gabrelyan asked whether they would be able to implement the construction of so many schools. In response, it was noted that around 60 schools will be operated this year, and everything will be done to implement the planned programmes.

According to him, the volume of the general education programme has increased by 30 billion AMD.

The deputy Hakob Aslanyan inquired about the fate of vocational schools. The Minister stated that currently there are 21 vocational schools, but there are also colleges that perform the same functions. And in total there are around 100 state institutions.

The education quality assurance programme increased by 4.5 billion AMD. According to the Minister, as of now there are 5200 applications for teachers’ certification, but around 20% of the applicants do not participate in the certification.

Capital expenditures are also planned in the sphere of culture: Next year, 11 monuments will be restored, 9 monuments will be reconstructed, two museums will be overhauled and designed, 17 museums will be equipped.

During the working debate, the deputies also raised many other issues regarding different spheres.