Entry exams will be organized, despite absence of school graduates - minister

Though secondary schools will have no graduates this year, the Ministry of Education is organizing university entry examinations, says the minister of education and science.

"We don't have school graduates this year, but entry examinations will be organized for people from Javakhk and the Diaspora, as well as former conscripts and those who wish to receive a second education," Armen Ashotyan told Tert.am.

The crisis in the higher education system results from the Education Ministry's earlier decision to introduce a 12-year education system for secondary schools.

Speaking to Tert.am, Gayane Manukyan, a spokesperson of the ministry's Evaluation and Testing Center, said that 1,209 applicants have applied for entry examinations this year.

She noted that most of the applicants will take an exam in the Armenian Language and Literature.

"Their number is 609," she said, adding that 544 applicants will sit for an exam in mathematics, 365 – in English and 294 – in physics.

"The majority of the applicants are from Yerevan – 320 people. Those from Shirak region are in the second place – 143 people. We have 108 applicants from Gegharkunik and some 80 applicants from Karabakh," Manukyan said.

She also added that all applicants are required to submit their applications to universities by May 30.
"Otherwise they won't be able to take part in the entry examinations," she said.