MP: distant learning development very important for Armenia

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. Distant learning development is very important for Armenia, Armen Ashotyan, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science, education, culture, the youth and sport, said Monday at meeting dedicated to the Day of Students.

“Distant learning in Armenia is underdeveloped and even missing. Meanwhile there are many advantages in distant learning”, he said.

Ashotyan said distant learning is very democratic since it bridges the gap between low-income and high-income students.

He said universities’ expenses for distant learning are not so great and tuition fees should be small.

“Besides, students from provinces won’t have to come to Yerevan. The distant tuition will give them a chance to obtain their education in their provinces”, Ashotyan said.

The lawmaker thinks that developed distant learning will not only make education available for young people from low-income provincial families, but also ease Yerevan’s burden and enhance Armenian universities competitiveness.

Ashotyan thinks development of distant learning is hampered by imperfect legislation.

Education and Science Minister Spartak Seyranyan said that the ministry is working out relevant programs and intends to unveil them soon.

As key obstacle for distant learning development, Seyranyan singled out the fact that availability of advanced technologies is far higher in the country than necessary ability to use them.

He said that the rate of students able to use computers and new technologies is not so high in Armenia, and this is an obstacle for distant learning introduction. M.V.-0--