2021 July 7

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jul/7/2021: Education reforms: STEM, labs, financial literacy & anti-corruption classes, no grading for kids, Armenology, school Clubs, army camps ___ Police reforms: IQ tests, academy training, no longer "Soviet" ___ Birth rate is up ___ Pashinyan met Putin: borders __ Aronian's school _ ++
by ar_david_hh

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Your 11-minute Wednesday recap in 2805 words.

education reforms: state standards of general education approved / STEM and humanities retraining / new labs & programs

Education Ministry: beginning September 1, as a pilot program, all public schools in Tavush province will implement new standards in the 2, 5, 7, and 10th grades. There will be new content and a new grading system.

All school administrators and teachers will undergo retraining before Sep 1, as part of an EU grant program.

AYB Foundation will conduct the retraining of STEM teachers (begins today), while KZNAK will retrain humanities teachers (begins July 23).

standards

The state standard of general education was approved by the government in February 2021, followed by the Education Ministry approving individual subject standards.

The state standards will go into effect in 2023. The ongoing pilot program in Tavush is meant as an experiment before the state-wide adoption in 2023.

STEM labs

Every school will have labs and computers for STEM. The creation of labs will be accompanied by the introduction of new standards to maximize efficiency.

example changes in "standards"

School clubs will be emphasized. Health-promoting clubs will become mandatory in all schools. The NZP (military education) will have a new mandatory component: attendance to military camp (for high schoolers).

Other mandatory Clubs will help students choose their majors. Universal inclusion was also taken into account.

no grades for kids

Students won't receive digits as grades until the second half of 5th grade. It'll be replaced with remarks that describe their academic performance. The concept of a failing grade will be removed for them.

students will research

Beginning in 7th grade, the students will receive project training. It's about research done by students. It's a new addition to the Armenian education system.

financial education & anti-corruption

Starting 7th grade, students will be taught financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and anti-corruption as part of sociology classes.

Emphasis is placed on natural sciences. Students must see the connection between these subjects and their personal lives and surroundings.

art & craft

If in the past the Arts teaching ended at 8th grade, then after reforms it'll remain until 12th grade. In this context, the integrated "Art" subject will be taught.

Armenology

Great importance is given to the field of Armenology. The 5-6 graders will study the new "My Homeland" subject. It'll be experimented in the 5th grade this year. The goal of this subject is to explore the homeland. From the student's community's cultural heritage, to school trips made to cultural sites.

digital literacy & computer sciences

Beginning 2nd grade, instead of the Informatika subject, students will study Digital Literacy and Computer Sciences.

High schoolers will have the Natural Sciences integrated subject designed for non-natural sciences students.

minimum two foreign languages

Two foreign languages are necessary to meet the European B2 education standards. //

Education Ministry held a meeting with the representatives of AYB and KZNAK foundations, tasked with retraining teachers. AYB presented their plans and held a Q&A with teachers.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057576.html

Tags: #EducationReforms

the new road patrol launches service in Armenia / from "Soviet" to "modern" / IQ tests, etc.

In January 2020, the Government approved the police reform bill to train a new force, equip them with better tech, new vehicles, new uniforms, and pay significantly higher salaries.

After months of training in a police academy, and studying the experience in other countries, the new Patrol Service is ready. The 700 officers began patrolling Yerevan streets.

Patrol chief Umrshatyan: this is a big day for us. The new Patrol Service's philosophy and tasks are fundamentally different. Both the staff and the management have a great sense of responsibility. We know what the public's expectations are, and the challenges we will face.

The Patrols will be stationed everywhere and do everything relating to public peace. There will be foot patrols and vehicle patrols traveling in groups. They will regulate traffic during peak hours.

Our foreign colleagues helped us train the officers for 5 months, with international standards. The Patrol will eventually expand to provinces.

Justice Ministry official Amalya about recruitment: our society and needs had evolved but the police were still providing service typical of the Soviet system. The change begins from here. The goal is to have a citizen-oriented, citizen-respecting Patrol.

We aren't just changing the cars and uniforms. The philosophy is changing. For this, we needed to involve "new blood". We didn't simply take the existing servicemen and give them new uniforms.

A new process began with the involvement of new recruits. We announced a competition and 2,500 people applied for 770 spots. They took IQ tests, physical exams, and went through individual interviews.

The 770 winners underwent 5 months of academy training, the first-of-its-kind process in Armenia. The courses were strict. 10% of applicants dropped out.

The Patrol Service meets the best international standards with its education and skills. It was an expensive ($13 million to launch) process from a financial and human resources perspective. The government and international partners were generous.

The international colleagues agreed to help only if the Armenian government agreed to co-finance the project, so the government amended the budget to allocate funds.

Our main donor partners were the U.S. government, the U.S. embassy in Armenia, the EU, the World Bank, and the UN. We studied the experience in U.S., Canada, EU states, Georgia, and Ukraine. The latter two's experience was especially important for drawing conclusions and learning from their mistakes. Of course, eventually, we will face our own challenges since the program is new. //

In addition to the new Patrol Service, there will be a new Operational Management Center [911]. Regardless of what emergency you are facing, whether it's domestic violence, road incident, you always call 1-02, which then sends the appropriate type of service.

The vehicles will have Armenian and English words Police/Patrol so the tourists can flag them down if necessary.

Video: https://youtu.be/bDFa82amyPg

Video: https://youtu.be/oLAHvt8SjlM

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057556.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057617.html

birth rate and marriage has increased in Armenia (Jan-May period)

2019: 13.3k births

2020: 12.8k births

2021: 14.3k births

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2020: 4.2k marriages

2021: 6.7k marriages

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2020: 1.2k divorces

2021: 1.6k divorses

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2020: 11.5k deaths

2021: 14.3k deaths (half from cardiovascular, sixth from COVID)

https://www.civilnet.am/news/625438/այս-տարվա-առաջին-5-ամիսներին-հայաստանում-ծնունդների-թիվն-ավելացել-է/

bombshell: the cows that died from anthrax were NOT vaccinated / veterinarian's suicide

Last week we learned about several anthrax infections in Isahakyan village and elsewhere in Gegharkunik province.

It turns out, the animals in Isahakyan did not receive a vaccine at all. The unused vaccines were found in the refrigerator of the village veterinarian. A day after the discovery, the veterinarian committed suicide.

He was unable to explain why the cattle were not vaccinated. Inspectors say he was incoherent and did not provide any valid explanation.

Despite him not vaccinating the cattle, the cattle owners falsified vaccination records and claimed the cattle were vaccinated. They did so at the request of the veterinarian, who wanted to submit the vaccination report to meet a deadline, and only then conduct the actual vaccinations.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/218043

Tajikstan has asked CSTO for help over the "border incidents" with Afghanistan

Pashtuns are taking over large areas and causing Afghan government forces to flee to neighboring states.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057627.html

Russian REGNUM news agency's co-founder about AM-AZ border and CSTO

Context: CSTO Secretary Zas downplayed the Azeri intrusion in Syunik and Gegharkunik as a "border incident", saying it doesn't fall under CSTO's protocols to trigger a response.

Chief editor Modest Kolerov: It wasn't a "border incident". As the Armenian Security Council chairman Grigoryan said, it's undoubtedly aggression. It is a result of borders not being properly demarcated.

If Armenia contacts CSTO for aid, it has to show where the border is, where the Armenian border outposts are. But this area doesn't have a regular border yet.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057545.html

Yerevan State University's head of Political Institute Faculty:

CSTO should have sent an envoy to the AM-AZ border to learn the details before drawing conclusions and giving an official assessment. Both (Zas and Grigoryan) are correct. There are no clearly demarcated borders, but at the same time, the Soviet maps clearly show these are Armenian territories. Grigoryan was right to invite Zas to visit the border.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057548.html

Russian ambassador Kopyrkin about the borders:

Discussions continue over the deployment of Russian soldiers on the AM-AZ border. Russian troops are already present in some parts of the border, and they contribute to peace. The discussions are about expanding their presence.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057569.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057570.html https://youtu.be/-Q3jx2LFXfM

some of the Russian border guards are already in Gegharkunik province

... announced the governor today. They will be deployed on the problematic borders after some extra work. Armenian and Azeri soldiers will be removed and replaced with Russians, followed by border delimitation and demarcation.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/625498/ռուս-զինվորականների-մի-մասը-արդեն-գեղարքունիքում-է․-մարզպետ/

Pashinyan will meet Putin in Moscow

The trip is under the context of recent snap elections to ensure AM and RU are on the same page on regional issues, announced the Russian ambassador to Armenia.

No new documents will be signed about additional Russian troops deployment, said Putin's spokesmustache Peskov while addressing rumors. "This trip is important. This is the first foreign trip after Pashinyan's confident and decisive victory in the elections."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057574.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057579.html

Pashinyan held a meeting with Putin

Putin: It is very important to have the trust of the people. The election results show that you have it. In reality, that is the most important thing. It's an important condition for further development. So I sincerely congratulate you on that. The sensitive issues can be resolved only through cooperation. Let's discuss this over the dinner table.

Pashinyan: thanks for your help to repatriate POWs. This is our third meeting this year, BTW... We have good news about the economy. I hope you remember our 2019 discussion about the South Caucasus Railways in Armenia. Today the railways are investing. It's good news, there are big investments.

Thanks for shipping 100k Sputnik V vaccines. Thankfully COVID is controllable in Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057622.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057633.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057637.html

Russia opens its third cultural house in Armenia

The Moscow House cultural organization opened a new Russian Center in Armavir to promote Russian language, literature, culture, and AM-RU ties. "I think the main purpose of such centers is to strengthen the ties between our peoples," said RU ambassador Kopyrkin.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057587.html

Armenian army responds to Azeri MOD

MOD statement: the Azeri MOD has circulated the latest misinformation claiming that at 1:40 pm the Armenian soldiers opened fire towards the Azeri positions on Tavush borders. The information is false. Armenian side did not violate the ceasefire. Whenever necessary, our soldiers only take countermeasures to counter the opponent.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057612.html

Joint Statement by Europa Nostra and the European Association of Archaeologists

It's an urgent call for holistic protection of the integrity, authenticity, and diversity of the rich multicultural heritage in and around the area of Nagorno-Karabakh.

They condemned the act of vandalism against [Armenian] cultural sites in the area.

https://www.europanostra.org/urgent-call-for-a-holistic-protection-of-the-integrity-authenticity-and-diversity-of-the-rich-multicultural-heritage-in-and-around-the-area-of-nagorno-karabakh/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057584.html

2020 war participants receive awards for bravery

Artsakh president Arayik met the NSS forces and issued awards to several servicemen for acts of bravery during the war. "Despite the difficult outcome of the war, the boys did their job of defending the homeland with honor, fighting against the enemy in every part until the last bullet," said Arayik. "It is thanks to your efforts that we were able to preserve Armenian culture and aspirations for an independent state."

Arayik promised to fire public officials who deserted during the war.

The former Armenian NSS chief Argishti Qyaramyan also received a Medal of Courage. After the war, General Seyran Ohanyan and Argishti Qyaramyan spoke about their activities in Shushi.

At the time, Seyran Ohanyan denied conspiracy theorist Garnik Isagulyan's sensational claims about Qyaramyan allegedly fleeing Shushi with a truck full of gold. Ohanyan confirmed that Qyaramyan and him were in the same vehicle when they left the city.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057564.html https://factor.am/390943.html https://factor.am/391165.html

financing approved for six joint scientific projects between Armenia and Belarus

Education Ministries of Armenia and Belarus have approved co-financing several projects. The winning projects were presented by Armenian's Molecular Biology Institute, Orbeli Institute of Physiology, Buniatyan Biochemistry Institute, Polyteknik university, and YSU.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057598.html

anti-corruption: official found guilty of forging documents to become deputy governor

Razmik Tonoyan gave false information to Pashinyan so he could be hired as Vayots Dzor deputy governor in 2018.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/218018

Levon Aronian's chess school re-opens

Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargsyan's Grand Master School has reopened after three years. It will operate with the help of the Reborn Thought charity foundation. The school used to be state-funded. Gabriel Sargsyan promised to stay with their students regardless of what happened in previous years.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057561.html

Karen Grigoryan is the winner of the Sevilla chess tournament

Karen scored 6.5 out of 7 and became the champion. He improved the FIDE ranking by 4 points.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057568.html

more school exam results from several unified exam centers (sample size is 30-200)

Armenian language and literature: avg. 9 points (out of 20), fail 47%, excellent 5%

English language: avg. 12.4pt, fail 19%, excellent 17%

Russian language: avg. 8pt, fail 57%, excellent 0%

Math: avg. 9pt, fail 39%, excellent 4%

Chemistry: avg. 9pt, fail 45%, excellent 9%

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057567.html

eight companies receive the statues of a "resident" at the upcoming Engineering City in Yerevan

High Tech Ministry: the Engineering City will be equipped with modern equipment, research labs, manufacturing machines. The City's 3-hectare area is located in Yerevan's Nor Nork district. The goal is to form a new ecosystem to allow high-tech firms to invent and produce products with the use of modern infrastructure.

Upon meeting the requirements and receiving residency certificates, the firms will be able to build their offices in the City and share the labs with others.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057621.html

Netherlands are interested in activating cooperation with Armenia

Dutch ambassador Nicholas: we're aiming for several fields: democracy, rule of law, agriculture, high tech, etc. We held discussions with many NGOs and civil society representatives to learn how democracy can be strengthened.

We're seeing a growing interest from the Dutch side to invest in Armenia. The development of agriculture is in the spotlight. The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of agricultural products [needs fact-check].

The increased investment interest is because Armenia has great agricultural potential. European states want to see transparency, clarity, and security before investing.

Armenia is an interesting tech partner. [talks about TUMO tech center]. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057572.html

have you been eating more fruits lately?

Armenia's fruit and veggie exports have doubled and reached 104,000 tons this year so far. 2020 wasn't too shabby either: +2% over 2019 (or +27% monetarily).

From the 104k, the fruits were 43k and veggies 61k. Apricot exports have already surpassed the entire 2020 exports, but to be fair, 2020 was terrible for apricot because of climate issues.

Today the fruits look good and there is a high demand, said Economy Ministry (handles agriculture). Apricot price is still high at 450 drams.

Potato exports have already reached 29k, compared to 9k in the entire 2020. Tomato exports will also surpass 2020 by year-end.

Cucumber exports, on the other hand, are on the decline out of precaution, because the Georgia-Russia border checkpoint was closed and had long traffic jams this year, so cucumber farmers switched to growing other products. Tomato can travel 21 days but a cucumber spoils easily.

More: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057599.html

Eurasian Development Bank predicts a 4.2% economic growth in Armenia for 2021

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057609.html

healthy lifestyle, bros...

Every Saturday, the "Street Workout" federation holds physical exercises in neighborhoods equipped with modern playgrounds. Federation chief Arthur says the goal is to create a new culture for a healthy lifestyle.

https://youtu.be/Si7Sg5KLumY?t=8

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057605.html

Yerevan removed illegally-parked "taco trucks"

The capital approved stricter rules in 2019 to regulate street trade conducted from parked trailers. Today the city began towing the illegal budkas on wheels.

https://factor.am/391146.html

Shoghakat, Gegharkunik has a new garden named after Charles Aznavour

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057600.html

COVID stats

6086 tested. 140 infected. 53 healed. 1 death. 2866 active (up).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057555.html

Armenia imports additional 15,000 first dozes of Sputnik V vaccine

https://factor.am/391272.html

Armenia is working with EU to have them recognize vaccination certificates issued in Armenia

Being vaccinated isn't enough to freely travel to the EU. The EU countries require special cooperation with other countries before recognizing foreign certificates.

https://factor.am/391184.html

cancer cells eat themselves to survive

To survive life-threatening injuries, cancer cells use a technique in which they eat parts of the membrane surrounding them. This is shown for the first time in research from a team of Danish researchers.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-cancer-cells-survive.html

today in history

1923: Nagorno Karabakh's ethnic Armenian region is given the name Nagorno Karabakh Authonomous Oblast with Stepanakert (Khankendi) as the administrative center.

1947: musician Carlos Santana is born

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057534.html

yesterday's news

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/oefpmx/news_jul52021_artsakhs_tech_summit_coworking_15/?

Перевод на русский by Impossible-Ad-

https://reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/ofcutw/новости_армении_за_6_июля_2021/

end of report

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports

Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ofrmb2/news_jul72021_education_reforms_stem_labs/