Major Education Reforms and New School Subjects Discussed in Yerevan
Education officials and school principals have kicked off their annual August consultations in Yerevan to prepare for the 2026-2027 academic year. Led by Armenia's Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Araxia Svajyan, the meetings detailed the rollout of new state educational standards and upcoming priorities.
According to Deputy Minister Araxia Svajyan, the state general education standard will also be introduced to the 12th grade this year. Significant changes are planned for student project work, with a primary focus on the actual content and the practical skills students acquire.
"We must not forget that project-based learning is not merely event planning," Araxia Svajyan noted.
New Subjects and Grading Changes
The curriculum is expanding with new specialized directions. Specifically, in the 5th and 10th grades, "Healthy Lifestyle" and "Safe Living" will be taught as separate subjects. Meanwhile, the safety component for the 11th grade will be conducted through a specialized summer camp. Additionally, traditional point-based grading will be abolished for certain subjects, including "Crafts and Arts" and "Safe Living and Healthy Lifestyle," replacing numerical scores with descriptive feedback.
More flexible conditions will be introduced in high schools, particularly during the second semester of the 12th grade. Students will have the opportunity to participate in various projects and clubs to earn credits. This system is designed to help them prepare for final exams and reduce the reliance on private tutors. Special guidelines have also been developed for subjects currently lacking standard textbooks, such as "Biology" and "History of Armenia".
Statistical Data and Program Results
The discussions also addressed the risks of student dropouts and overall academic performance. During the previous academic year, 1 287 children were identified as being at risk of dropping out, with 248 students actually leaving school. At the same time, there are positive trends among students who enrolled in school late: out of 469 such students, 93 percent earned between 4 and 10 points, while about 47 percent registered scores of 8 or 9 points.
During the consultation, it was also announced that a "School Meals" program will be launched as a pilot project in Yerevan this year, beginning with newly constructed educational institutions.
This article was generated automatically using AI based on reporting from established news sources. All sources are listed below.
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