TOEFL Will Be Obligatory for MA Courses: Unpleasant Gift for Students

Armenia's Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan held a meeting with a group of students who protested against the Ministry's decision over the distribution of graduate and post-graduate (MA, PHD) placements in Armenian universities.

The Armenian students one more time expressed their main concerns: the reduction of placements without the right to postpone the studies when necessary would be a serious blow for the further development of science.

Speaking about the distribution of placements in graduate and post-graduates studies Ashotyan assured that the reasons for such initiative are purely educational.

"For several years the current system has not satisfied the [required] preparation and development level of scientific-pedagogical staff: it is subject for state financing and it is not being solved only in the framework of state-sponsored placements," said Ashotyan.

Further he elaborated on certain innovations to be introduced in the educational system in the future. Particularly, he informed those present that from the next year on the TOEFL examination will be obligatory for those who apply for MA courses.