Today we celebrate the International Day of Education, which provides an opportunity to highlight once again the vital role of education in the development of our society, the formation of citizens and the establishment of peace. According to UNESCO, this year's theme is the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence that can transform our education system and expand the boundaries of innovation.

The AI educational program has successfully been piloted in 15 high schools in Armenia for several years, involving approximately 600 students. This program, developed in our country, has gained international recognition, and we are proud that it meets UNESCO standards. We aim to make the program accessible to 80% of public school students by 2026, fostering our youth's competitiveness and creative development.

In the field of higher education, Yerevan State University has an artificial intelligence laboratory, where innovative and applied research is conducted. The 8.6 billion AMD allocated from the state budget, including for the creation of a new supercomputing centre at YSU, will enable our scientists and students to work using modern technologies and facilities.

Today, more than ever, it is essential to collaborate in education, science, and innovation to build a sustainable, modern, and competitive society in our country.

I am sure that the efficient use of artificial intelligence can be a good tool in this endeavour. Simultaneously, as in other cases of technological development, value-based education is becoming essential for using the created opportunities in the interests of public development and making reasonable decisions. This is also an issue within the education system that we must solve along with sharing knowledge and skills.