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EDUCATION MINISTRY'S ACTIVITIES WERE INSUFFICIENT FOR PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION - ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN
news.am
March 27, 2012 | 11:35
YEREVAN. - Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has issued an evaluation
of the Ministry of Education and Science activities for 2011.
The assessment is as follows:
Shortcomings and problems identified
The Ministry failed to take measures in time to establish
clear legal basis for organization of competition of textbooks for
comprehensive schools.
In the result of not submitting published textbooks to necessary
examination, in some cases there were editorial, spelling and printing
errors in them and as a result pupils' right to proper education
was violated.
Though, each year the RA State Budget foresees financial means for
assurance of heating system in educational institutions, however the
problem of heating provision during winter months in many schools
remain unsolved, as a result of which absence of children, who are
concerned about their health and do not attend classes, is considered
as unexcused. In particular, the schools (mainly in villages), where
number of pupils is few (schools are funded based on the number of
pupils), are not provided with necessary laboratory equipments and
materials. Schools in villages were not provided with food delivery
services.
Though, the Ministry has constantly taken measures for elimination
of corruption in educational institutions, however, they were not
sufficient for prevention and elimination of cases of money collection
in schools and corruption in the sphere of education.
The Ministry of Education and Science provided about 365 million AMD
to same 7 NGOs. The 38% of the whole amount was given to "Support
to Classical Music" NGO, activities of which are mainly related
to cultural issues. According to the Ministry, these organizations
carried out educational work envisaged by the application.
As a result of lack of control carried out by the Ministry, in some
cases relatives and friends of school directors, who not only did not
teach, but also did not attend schools were included in school staff
lists, in the result of which extra money has been spent from the
state budget. Despite of all these, in the applications addressed
to the RA State Inspectorate of Education, only 12 cases of money
collecting and 11 cases of corruption have been reported during 2011;
any confirming results in the course of examination of these cases
were not registered.
According to our sources Appliance Formulation has been terminated
in Universities, though it has not been terminated by any legal act,
and according to the Ministry it is operating and is regulated by
appropriate legal acts.
The Ministry should present to the Staff of the RA President and
National Security Council Staff for opinion (according to the RA
President corresponding order) Government draft decisions on granting
a delay from compulsory military service recruitment up to the end of
education as draft legal acts concerning security issues. The mentioned
Government draft decisions were not coordinated with National Security
Council Staff and in some cases were not presented to the Staff of
the RA President.
In the result of the slow process of providing general inclusive
education, the right of equal access to education of children with
mental problems continued being violated.
The Ministry failed to take appropriate measures especially
in regions to raise awareness about its hotline (the Ministry's
"Hotline" received 138 calls, 114 of which relating to Yerevan,
and 24- relating to regional schools; total number of applications,
complaints and recommendations received from citizens is 4632).
Positive Developments
List of inclusive education schools has increased by 15, thus becoming
81 in total in the Republic.
Implementation of the pilot program for organization of general
inclusive education has been launched in Tavush region- according
to the RA Government decision -with an aim of improving education of
children with special educational needs.
The Ministry carried out several programs addressing improvement of
the quality of education; trainings for teachers and school directors,
renovation of buildings, re-equipments, etc.
"Chess" course was included in the 2nd grade schools' curriculum
beginning from 2011-2012 academic year.
"Healthy Lifestyle" course for 10-11 grades has been developed and
approved.
"Trafficking" theme has been included in the "Social Sciences"
subject for senior classes in comprehensive schools.
news.am
March 27, 2012 | 11:35
YEREVAN. - Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has issued an evaluation
of the Ministry of Education and Science activities for 2011.
The assessment is as follows:
Shortcomings and problems identified
The Ministry failed to take measures in time to establish
clear legal basis for organization of competition of textbooks for
comprehensive schools.
In the result of not submitting published textbooks to necessary
examination, in some cases there were editorial, spelling and printing
errors in them and as a result pupils' right to proper education
was violated.
Though, each year the RA State Budget foresees financial means for
assurance of heating system in educational institutions, however the
problem of heating provision during winter months in many schools
remain unsolved, as a result of which absence of children, who are
concerned about their health and do not attend classes, is considered
as unexcused. In particular, the schools (mainly in villages), where
number of pupils is few (schools are funded based on the number of
pupils), are not provided with necessary laboratory equipments and
materials. Schools in villages were not provided with food delivery
services.
Though, the Ministry has constantly taken measures for elimination
of corruption in educational institutions, however, they were not
sufficient for prevention and elimination of cases of money collection
in schools and corruption in the sphere of education.
The Ministry of Education and Science provided about 365 million AMD
to same 7 NGOs. The 38% of the whole amount was given to "Support
to Classical Music" NGO, activities of which are mainly related
to cultural issues. According to the Ministry, these organizations
carried out educational work envisaged by the application.
As a result of lack of control carried out by the Ministry, in some
cases relatives and friends of school directors, who not only did not
teach, but also did not attend schools were included in school staff
lists, in the result of which extra money has been spent from the
state budget. Despite of all these, in the applications addressed
to the RA State Inspectorate of Education, only 12 cases of money
collecting and 11 cases of corruption have been reported during 2011;
any confirming results in the course of examination of these cases
were not registered.
According to our sources Appliance Formulation has been terminated
in Universities, though it has not been terminated by any legal act,
and according to the Ministry it is operating and is regulated by
appropriate legal acts.
The Ministry should present to the Staff of the RA President and
National Security Council Staff for opinion (according to the RA
President corresponding order) Government draft decisions on granting
a delay from compulsory military service recruitment up to the end of
education as draft legal acts concerning security issues. The mentioned
Government draft decisions were not coordinated with National Security
Council Staff and in some cases were not presented to the Staff of
the RA President.
In the result of the slow process of providing general inclusive
education, the right of equal access to education of children with
mental problems continued being violated.
The Ministry failed to take appropriate measures especially
in regions to raise awareness about its hotline (the Ministry's
"Hotline" received 138 calls, 114 of which relating to Yerevan,
and 24- relating to regional schools; total number of applications,
complaints and recommendations received from citizens is 4632).
Positive Developments
List of inclusive education schools has increased by 15, thus becoming
81 in total in the Republic.
Implementation of the pilot program for organization of general
inclusive education has been launched in Tavush region- according
to the RA Government decision -with an aim of improving education of
children with special educational needs.
The Ministry carried out several programs addressing improvement of
the quality of education; trainings for teachers and school directors,
renovation of buildings, re-equipments, etc.
"Chess" course was included in the 2nd grade schools' curriculum
beginning from 2011-2012 academic year.
"Healthy Lifestyle" course for 10-11 grades has been developed and
approved.
"Trafficking" theme has been included in the "Social Sciences"
subject for senior classes in comprehensive schools.