MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The Period of the First Republic (1918-1920)

The history of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia dates back to the periods of the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) when on May 28, 1918 the Armenian National Council declared itself the supreme and sole authority of the Armenian provinces.

The official statement of the Armenian National Council was published in early June, which particularly stated: "On May 28, on the basis of the rights vested by the Armenian people, the Armenian National Council decided to declare the independence of the Armenian State and establish the Democratic Republic of Armenia." On July 24, the composition of the Supreme Executive Body of the Government was published which included the Ministry of Public Education.

On 1, July, 1919 by the suggestion of the Minister of Public Education Melik Gharagyozyan, the Ministry was renamed to the Ministry of Public Education and Art with the departments of secondary schools, elementary schools, arts and antiquities, medical-sanitary. The Ministry worked with this structure until the establishment of the Soviet order.

The Soviet Period (1920-1991)

In December, 1920, when the authorities of the first republic transferred the power to the Bolshevik Party, with the establishment of Soviet rule in Armenia by the decree of Armenian Revolutionary Committee, the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment was established which was later renamed to ASSR Ministry of Enlightenment in 1946.

The ASSR Ministry of Enlightenment, ASSR Ministry of Higher and Vocational Education and the ASSR State Committee for Preliminary Education were dissolved according to the decree of ASSR Presidency of the Supreme Council 09.08.1988. As a result, ASSR Ministry of National Education was established. ASSR Ministry of National Education was dissolved according to the Decision № 616 of the RA Supreme Council on 01.11.1990 and the ASSR Ministry of Enlightenment and ASSR State Committee for Higher Education and Science were established.

The Period of the Third Republic of Armenia (1991to present)

In 1992 the State Committee for Higher Education and Science was reorganized into the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of RA. According to the Decree of the President on “Setting the Structure and Activities of the Government of the Republic of Armenia” on July 25, 1995 and the decision of the RA Government on “Measures for Implementation of the Process of Liquidation and Reconstruction of the State Governmental Bodies Not Included in the RA Government Structure”, the activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the Ministry of Enlightenment of the Republic of Armenia were suspended in connection with their merger with the RA Ministry of Education and Science recognized as successor.

MINISTERS

The Period of the Third Republic of Armenia (1991to present)

2022 December - Zhanna Andreasyan - RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
2020-2022 - Vahram Dumanyan- RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
2019-2020 - Arayik Harutyunyan RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
2018 -2019- Arayik Harutyunyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2016-2018 – Levon Mkrtchyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2009-2016 – Armen Ashotyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2008-2009- Spartak Seyranyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2006-2008 – Levon Mkrtchyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2003-2006 – Sergo Yeritsyan RA Minister of Education and Science
2001-2003 – Levon Mkrtchyan RA Minister of Education and Science
1999-2001- Eduard Ghazaryan RA Minister of Education and Science
1998-1999 – Levon Mkrtchyan RA Minister of Education and Science
1996-1998 –Artashes Petrosyan RA Minister of Education and Science
1996-1996- Vardges Gnuni RA Minister of Education and Science
1995-1995-Armenak Ghazaryan RA Minister of Education and Science
1994-1995 – Ashot Bleyan RA Deputy Minister of Education
1992-1994 – Hayk Ghazaryan RA Minister of Education
1991-1995 – Vardges Gnuni RA Minister of Higher Education and Science

1991-1991- Vardges Gnuni Chairman of the State Committee for Higher Education and Science of RA
1990-1992 –Areg Grigoryan RA Minister of Enlightenment

The Soviet Period

1990-1991 – Vilik Harutyunyan, Chairman of State Committee of Higher Education and Science of RA
1989-1990 – Misak Davtyan, ASSR Minister of National Education
1988-1989 – Semyon Hakhumyan, ASSR Minister of National Education
1973-1988 - – Semyon Hakhumyan, ASSR Minister of Enlightenment
1975-1988- Lyudvig Gharibjanyan, ASSR Minister of Higher and Vocational Education
1954-1973 – Shavarsh Simonyan, ASSR Minister of Enlightenment
1949-1954 – Suren Mikayelyan, ASSR Minister of Enlightenment

The Period of the First Republic

1918 November – 1918 December – Mikayel Atabekyan, Minister of Public Education
1918 Decmber
-1919 June – Gevorg Melik-Gharagyozyan, Minister of Public Education
1919 June – 1919August – Sirakan Tigranyan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
1919 August
-1920 May – Nikol Aghbalyan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
1920 May-1920 November – Gevorg Ghazaryan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
1920 November – Vahan Minakhoryan, Minister of Public Education and Arts

MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
The Period of the First Republic (1918-1920)

The history of the Ministry of Culture dates back to the periods of the first Republic of Armenia. In 1918 there was no administrative body in charge of cultural affairs. The Ministry of Public Education operated from 1918 to 2019. On 21, May, 1919 the Minister of Public Education Melik Gharagyozyan applied to the Council of Ministers, proposing to rename the Ministry of Public Education into the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts. The Ministry of Public Education and Art was established on1, July, 1919 and comprised the departments of secondary and elementary schools, arts and antiquities, medical-sanitary. On 17, July 1919, the Council of Ministers approved law «On the Reorganization of the Ancient Monuments and Art Department: A) to reorganize the Department of Antiquities and Art into two divisions: a) Division of Preservation of Ancient Monuments; b) Division of Art Promotion; B) open credit line for twenty-two thousand and two hundred rubles for the Ministry of Public Education and Art for July-December1919. G. Khojamiryan - Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers”.

By this law the Department of Antiquities was added to the structure of the Ministry of Public Education and Art. The preservation of Antiquities was in the spotlight of the Ministry, the evidence of which are a number of documents. The Antiquities Department operated until 1920 and the functions were dissolved because of the shift to the Antiquities Committee. The issue of the Future National Museum as well as theatrical activities were also in the spotlight of the Ministry.

From January 1 to June 1, 1920, Yeghishe Soghomonyan (Charents) held the position of Special Commissioner for the Ministry of Education and the Arts.

The Soviet Period (1920-1991)

ASSR People’s Commissariat of Enlightenment was founded on 12, December, 1920 by the Decree of the Revolutionary Committee after the fall of the First Republic and the establishment of the Soviet Union. The Academic Centre began operating within the framework of the People’s Commissariat. The Center held supervision over the activities of higher education institutions, scientific organizations, research institutes, libraries, museums, theaters and the preservation of antiquities. Arts Department was created to run cultural institutions within the People's Commissariat. Based on the ASSR People’s Commissariat of Enlightenment Art Department, the Department of Arts Affairs was established under the ASSR People’s Council in 1936. State Opera and Ballet Theater, Sundukyan State Academic Theatre, the Theatre of Workers, the House of Culture of the Armenian SSR in Moscow, the Magazine of “Soviet Art”, Quartet after Spendiarov (now it is named after Komitas), city theatres of Armavir and Leninakan, “ArmenPhoto Trest, Conservatory and other art institutions operated under the Department of Arts Affairs. The Art Department later becomes one of the divisions of the Ministry of Culture.

The АSSR Ministry of Culture was established on 17, April, 1953 by the Decree of ASSR Presidency of the Supreme Soviet. “Decree on establishing the ASSR Ministry of Culture – ASSR Ministry of Culture comprised of ASSR Ministry of Cinematography, the Department of Art Affairs under the ASSR Council of Ministers, Committee of Culture and Enlightenment under the ASSR Council of Ministers, the Committee of Radio Information under the ASSR Council of Ministers, Printing, Publishing and Book Trade Affairs Department under the ASSR Council of Ministers and the Department of Labor Reserves. The Ministry of Culture comprised the departments of Art, Clubs and Folklore and the divisions of International Relations, Automated Management System, Museums, Libraries, Educational Institutions, HR, Capital Construction, Finance and Audit. The Ministry of Culture executed the implementation and management of the activities in the field of Culture, Enlightenment, Theatre, Music, Dance Art. Fine Arts and Decorative-Applied Arts.

The Period of the Third Republic of Armenia (1991to present)

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independence, the ASSR Ministry of Culture was renamed to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.
In 1995 the RA Ministry of Culture was renamed to the Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.
In 2003 the RA Ministry of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport was renamed to the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs
In 2007 the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs was again renamed to RA Ministry of Culture.

MINISTERS
The Period of the Third Republic of Armenia

03.12.1990-05.12.1991- Perch Zeytuntsyan, RA Minister of Culture
05.12.1991-08.11.1996- Hakob (Movses) Hakobyan, RA Minister of Culture
08.11.1996-20.04.1998- Armen Smbatyan, RA Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport
08.05.1998-11.06.2003- Roland Sharoyan, RA Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport
11.06.2003-03.05.2004- Tamar Poghosyan, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
03.05.2004-05.01.2006- Hovik Hoveyan, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
07.02.2006-22.05.2006- Gevorg Gevorgyan, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs
22.05.2006-27.09.2016- Hasmik Poghosyan, RA Minister of Culture
27.09.2016-12.05.2018- Armen Amiryan, RA Minister of Culture
12.05.2018-14.01.2019- Lilit Makunts. RA Minister of Culture
14.01.2019-30.05.2019- Nazeni Gharibyan, RA Acting Minister of Culture

The Soviet Period
ASSR Ministers of Culture (1953-1991)

27.03.1953-29.12.1953 –Zaven Grigoryan
06.02.1954-19.11.1959- Andranik Shahinyan
19.11.1959-06.03.1964- Hrachya Margaryan
06.03.1964-06.03.1966- Robert Khachatryan
06.03.1966-18.12.1967- Hovhannes Baghdasaryan
18.12.1967-29.08.1972 –Kamo Udumyan
13.06.1972-28.08.1979- Ruben Parsamyan
09.01.1980-19.12.1985- Gurgen Arakelyan
19.12.1985-03.12.1990- Yuri Melik-Ohanjanyan

ASSR People’s Commissars for Education (1920-1953)

04.12.1920-14.11.1921- Ashot Hovhannisyan
14.11.1921-07.08.1922- Poghos Makintsyan
07.08.1922-23.01.1923- Sargis Abovyan
23.01.1923-23.10.1929- Askanaz Mravyan
21.11.1929-28.08.1931- Artavazd Eghiazaryan
28.08.1931-05.10.1932- Drastamat Ter-Simonyan
09.12.1932-17.04.1933- Zarmayr Ashrafyan
11.09.1933-28.11.1933- Levon Arisyan
28.11.1933-26.06.1934- Nersik Stepanyan
26.06.1934-20.02.1936- Artavazd Eghiazaryan

The Period of the First Republic

04.11.1918-04.12.1918- Mikayel Atabekyan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
04.12.1918--24.06.1919- Gevorg Melik-Gharagyozyan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
24.06.1919-05.08.1919- Sirekan Tigranyan Minister of Public Education and Arts
19.08.1919-05.05.1920- Nikol Aghbalyan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
05.05.1920-23.11.1920- Gevorg Ghazaryan, Minister of Public Education and Arts
23.11.1920-02.12.1920- Vahan Minakhoryan, Minister of Public Education and Arts

MINISTRY OF SPORT AND YOUTH AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia was established in 2007 as a result of the reorganization of the State Committee on Physical Culture and Sport under the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

In accordance with points 4 and 4․3 of the order established by Presidential Decree № NH-1064 of March 16, 2002 by the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia № 825-N, July 12, 2007, the State Administrative Institution of the RA Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs was established which operated with 11 structural subdivisions (6 departments and 4 divisions).

The authorized state governing body for the field of physical education and sport was established and has been operating for more than 90 years.

MINISTERS

2018-2019, July 31- Gabriel Ghazaryan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2018, May 12-Levon Vahradyan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2016-2018- Hrachya Rostomyan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2014-2016- Gabriel Ghazaryan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2013-2014-Yuri Vardanyan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2012-2013-Hrachya Rostomyan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2010-2012-Artur Petrosyan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2007-2010-Armen Grigoryan, RA Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CULTURE AND SPORT

On May 8, 2019, by the law of the Republic of Armenia "On Amendments and Addenda to the Law on “Structure and Activities of the Government" the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science were merged into the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. On 1 June, 2019. Arayik Harutyunyan was appointed to be the RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport

2022 December - Zhanna Andreasyan - RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
2020-2022 - Vahram Dumanyan- RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
2019-2020 - Arayik Harutyunyan RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports