Academician urges Armenian government to help excellent students study abroad

YEREVAN, April 23. /ARKA/. The Armenian government fails to implement effectively the programs awarding excellent students scholarships to study abroad, said Dr. of Physics and Mathematics, Corresponding Member of the RA National Academy of Sciences Arthur Ishkhanyan.

The Luys Foudnation, which is responsible for scholarship programs in Armenia, does not seem to justify itself, according to the academician.

The Luys Foudnation was established last April under the patronage of RA President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also the chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees. The foundation’s mission is to finance scholarships of motivated Armenian students abroad.

“The idea for implementing the program was born more than two year ago, with many discussions being held since then. Even a relevant concept has been adopted, but the foundation has not performed its direct functions so far,” Ishkhanyan, said.

The foundation has not yet drawn the list of the world’s most prestigious universities where the most promising Armenian students can continue their studies with the help of the government. Ishkhanyan also criticized the idea of appointing Jacqueline Karaaslanian as the foundation’s executive director.

The academician disapproved of the current program of the foundation, urging the government to undertake steps to implement the program.

“The concept ready, the prime minister and president keep saying the program is the government’s priority, but no progress has been made so far,” Ishkhanyan said, pointing out a crisis in the administrative management.

He also stressed the importance of awarding presidential scholarships to Armenian students. Drawing parallels between Armenia and its neighbor countries, he said similar programs had proved successful, with around 2,000 students studying in the world’s leading universities.

The academician stressed that almost 250 Armenian students could have received scholarships to study abroad annually. According to his calculations, the government was supposed to earmark some $3mln annually for the program.

Commenting on the situation, RA Minister of Education Spartak Seyranyan said the program is not under the direct supervision of the ministry, but it is interested in its successful implementation. He also urged everyone to restrain their ambitions while criticizing the local education system. Z. Sh. –0--