RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Arayik Hautyunyan held a remote working discussion with the representatives of IT companies. The Minister emphasized that the objective of the meeting is to enhance the effectiveness of distance learning, and in this regard, the Ministry expects the support and cooperation of companies in the field.
The Minister noted that the education process is organized remotely due to the state of emergency. About 80% of schools and schoolchildren in the country are currently enrolled in the distance education system. Immediately after the declaration of the state of emergency, the National Center for Educational Technologies launched a comprehensive distance learning page heravar.armedu.am, which brings together a number of educational resources. During this time, the Ministry effectively collaborated with a number of private and public organizations. In particular, Ucom and Rostelecom companies and Shant TV have released educational channels that broadcast educational content created jointly by teachers and the NCET, proposed by MoESCS: educational videos, digital materials. And Beeline has released the BeeTV mobile application, which facilitates the process of distance learning for schoolchildren. Open lessons are daily broadcast on public television and the timetable is published in advance on the Ministry’s official Facebook page.
“Nation-education system is developed when the whole family is engaged in the educational process” stated the Minister and noted that interest in distance education is growing among teachers, schoolchildren and parents. However, there are some technical problems with the effective organization of distance learning: in particular, in some cases, students have problems with the Internet connection and the necessary equipment. According to data obtained from the regions of the Republic, there is a demand for about 21 thousand units of equipment to make distance education accessible to everyone. To this end, the Ministry calls on organizations and individuals to cooperate and assist in this matter. Starting next Sunday a special point will operate at high school №114 named after KH. Dashtents /address: Yerevan, 73 Hanrapetutyun str., tel. 091202960/ where computers and other equipment will be accepted if they meet the minimum technical standards set by the NCET.
The requirements are as follows:
CPU: Intel Dual Core processor
RAM: 2 GB DDR3
HDD: 500GB
Graphics card (Video Adapter)։ Integrated HD Graphics
Display: 18.5 inches (for desktop computer) and 14 inches (for portable computer)
Networking: Gigabit (10/100/1000) LAN, WLAN: 802.11a/b/g/n (for portable laptops)
USB keyboard and USB optical mouse
Tablets or smartphone: Android or IOS
CPU: Dual-Core, Quad-Core
RAM: 2 GB, screen size >= 8 inches, 3G, Wifi
Head of the National Center for Educational Technologies Artak Poghosyan presented the basic minimum hardware requirements and noted that the equipment will be assembled, repaired as necessary and provided to schoolchildren and teachers.
The Minister also emphasized the creation of mobile applications that will operate with low traffic and provide greater access to distance education.
During the remote discussion the Deputy Minister Zhanna Andreasyan highlighted the provision of distance education for children with special educational needs, which is a requirement for universal inclusive education. According to the Deputy Minister, the release of mobile applications ensuring inclusiveness is especially encouraged.
The companies participating in the discussion expressed their willingness to cooperate and support the initiative of the MoESCS in establishing a distance learning system.
Summing up the discussion, Minister Arayik Harutyunyan noted that the universal piloting of distance education has already been implemented, and it is a fact. The first results of the implementation of distance education system are inspiring and positive.
