Armenian PM orders investigation into media reports about kickbacks at schools

YEREVAN, July 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan ordered today Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan and Finance Minister Vache Gabrielyan to conduct an internal investigation into media reports alleging that some head principals demand kickbacks from school teachers in return for a package of social benefits provided by law.

In 2012 January the Armenian government introduced a package of social benefits for public and civil servants, which includes mandatory health insurance.

"Since this is a pilot program, you must respond immediately to media reports. I instruct the ministers of education and sciences and finance to conduct an internal investigation in these schools and to cooperate also with journalists to find out what abuses occur at schools,’ Sargsyan said.

The Prime Minister recalled that 120,000 public and civil servants are eligible to benefits, saying that some 150 public servants in Armenia eligible to a package of social benefits had expensive heart surgeries over the last two and a half months.

The Prime Minister also assured that the government intends to improve and continue the process of providing social benefits in the future.

Education and Science Minister Ashotian told reporters later that Prime Minister’s order was prompted by media reports that heads of some schools are seeking ‘rewards’ from their subordinates in return for benefits.

"We have asked these media to provide us with specific information. Internal investigation will be conducted in all schools,’ he said.

The size of monthly payments under the compulsory health insurance scheme for civil and public servants is 52 thousand drams. The total amount of the benefit for a social or public servant financed by the government is 132,000 drams. About 120,000 social and public servants are eligible to this subsidy. ($1 – 418.44 drams). -0-