Literacy rate
A
literacy rate of 100% was reported as early as 1960.
In the communist era, Armenian education followed the standard Soviet model of complete state control (from
Moscow) of
curricula and teaching methods and close integration of education activities with other aspects of society, such as politics, culture, and the economy. In September 2018, a decision was made by the Armenian government to open the first
Chinese language school in Yerevan. The
Chinese-Armenian Friendship School became the first link in a network of technically equipped educational institutions with an in-depth learning of Chinese and is set to become the largest training center for teaching Chinese not only in Armenia, but also in
Eastern Europe and the
CIS region. == K-12 education ==
K-12 education
Preschool Preschool education generally begins at two and lasts approximately 4 years. Armenia had 808 community, 10 public, and 50 private preschool education amenities in 2017. Primary/elementary school Primary education covers grades 1 to 4, catering to children aged 6 to 10. The duration of this level is four years. Basic school/middle School Middle school lasts 5 years and encompasses 5-9 grades of K-12 education. Types of schools Public school Public schools are the leading type of school in Armenia, making up 97% of all schools. Public schools are established by the government based on the national education policy and sponsored by the state budget. The budget constitutes "operational costs, infrastructure maintenance, salaries for educators," and other necessary educational materials. The process to lay the foundation for a public school entails an exhaustive assessment of the "educational programs, teaching staff qualifications, and infrastructure compliance with established norms" to acquire a license. All public institutions must align with national educational strategies by customarily going through inspections to meet licensing requirements. Even though the Armenian government underscores equal access to education, it still struggles to provide sufficient funding for the evolving educational system. However, according to 'Generis legal,' the government has developed several standards involving "curriculum requirements, teacher qualifications, and assessment measures" for student's holistic development. The national curriculum is the backbone of public schools' education, giving important knowledge and developing necessary skills. It follows global educational trends, blending them with local culture and historical contexts. Public schools must stick to the national curriculum's guidelines to prepare students both academically and professionally for their lives. Teachers are supposed to have high degrees and certifications to guide students for twelve years. In order to achieve the desired outcome, public schools have to exert the mentioned measures, hold them accountable to the government, and remain transparent during their operation. Private school in Armenia Armenian private schools must follow specific licensing guidelines established by the Ministry of Education. A thorough application and all necessary supporting documentation, such as proof of financial health, a charter, and an organizational chart, must be submitted as part of the process. In Armenia, private schools function using a distinct funding mechanism that frequently involves tuition fees, individual donations, and outside assistance. Private educational institutions, having a significant access to financial resources, are able to provide specialized programs and well-equipped facilities. However, because only families who have enough financial resources can attend elite schools, this reliance on tuition can also result in unbalanced access to high-quality education. Additionally, private schools might look to donations from individuals or agreements with foreign groups for funding, which could improve their educational offerings but also lead to resource availability changes. To guarantee that they deliver quality education, private schools—which tend to operate independently—must go by certain rules specified by the Ministry. The private sector is given freedom under this dual system, but it is still subject to the same quality criteria as public schools. Precisely, private educational institutions must prove that their curricula meet national criteria. Additionally, they need to simplify the procedure for inspection to assess the condition of their premises, the quality of their instruction, and compliance with curriculum standards. Private schools are allowed to create unique monitoring methods, which might lead to a variety of learning experiences. The major objective, however, is still to maintain the highest possible standards of education in every area of the Armenian educational system. Private schools can occasionally result in differences in students' preparedness. The differences are the varying quality and level of complexity of the curricula used regardless of the possibility of a more individualized educational experience. There may be differences in qualifications for teachers since private schools may have more freedom in their hiring procedures. To keep their accreditation, private schools, however, frequently stick to tough requirements, hoping to meet or surpass public school standards. However, according to 'Generis legal,' teachers at private schools can explore modern teaching strategies, which could eventually improve learning outcomes and student engagement. ==Educational institutions==
Educational institutions
in
Yerevan (est. 1919) In the 1990-91 school year, the estimated 1,307 primary and secondary schools were attended by 608,800 students. Armenia has a comparatively large number of tertiary institutions. Armenia is home to 26 state universities, including four international institutions, and 33 licensed private higher educational institutions. Armenia offers a variety of higher education institutions, including universities, institutes, academies, and a conservatory. The country's scientific and educational system is particularly strong in fields such as Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology, and
Armenian studies. ==Higher education agreements==
Higher education agreements
Armenia has signed the
Lisbon Recognition Convention in 1997 and the
Bologna Process, an agreement between European countries to ensure comparability in the standards and quality of higher-education qualifications in 2005 and subsequently became a full member of the
European Higher Education Area. Armenia is also a member of the
European University Association, the
European Students' Union, and an associate member of
Horizon Europe. Since 2004, Armenian higher educational institutions and individual students have been involved in the European Union's
Erasmus Mundus mobility programmes, the
Jean Monnet Programme, and from 2015 in various
Erasmus Programme projects. Armenia is also a
TEMPUS (Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies) partner country, which allows structured cooperation between higher education institutions in EU member states and partner countries. Another major reform in Armenian higher education system included the establishment of a quality assurance agency that has been incorporated into the
European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and that was added to the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) in 2017. The standards and procedures for quality assurance, as well as for institutional and program accreditation, were developed and approved consistent with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance. A
European Union-Armenia Education Policy Dialogue was inaugurated in March 2019 to support the continued reform in the education sector. ==Student absenteeism==