High Schools are Testing Out IT Curricula
2018-10-02
In Quantum College, RA Minister of Education and Science, Arayik Harutyunyan, took part in a presentation where a briefing on the implementation outcomes of vocational subjects such as "Microelectronics", "Telecommunication Studies", and "Information Technologies" in 10 pilot schools had taken place since 2015.
RA Ministry of Education and Science, VivaCell-MTS, Synopsys Armenia and “Unicomp” signed a joint memorandum ,the purpose of which was to improve the quality of vocational education in IT.
In this accord RA Ministry of Education and Science ensured the application of “Microelectronics”, “Telecommunication studies”, “Information Technologies’’ and approved and propagated the curricula and standards of the above mentioned subject matters. Computer Programming will be added, as well. In this context, 20 instructors were trained, and 2750 students were admitted.
The introduction of IT subjects by the school directors is useful and crucial for the professional development for those studying Natural Sciences in High Schools. There is concern that those who teach Humanitarian subjects are not apt to do so.
Appreciating the expansion of the program, the Education and Science Minister, Arayik Harutyuntyan, suggested that teaching IT class is important in improving the standards of High School programs. “Now we take steps to change the content of the high school educational program. The implementation of IT subjects in high schools is one of the best steps and we are willing to continue and discuss of implementing the program in additional schools”.
“High-Tech is one of the priorities of the Government, and the school is the place to develop it, "said Arayik Harutyunyan.
The Minister explained that the choice of schools where this program would be piloted was based on which institutions that taught more Natural Science classes.
"It would be difficult to implement these subjects in schools that do not have a higher rate of Natural Science attendants.In any case, I am convinced that the problems have solutions, "the Minister said and added that there was a proposal to select schools in a competitive way. During the visit, the Minister also met with the students who studied the IT subjects at "Quantum" School. According to statistics conducted in 10 schools that included in the pilot program, students mainly chose professions in the field of Natural Science and High-Tech.
It should be noted that VivaCell-MTS, Armenia's telecommunications operator, participated in the processing of the "Telecommunication Studies" subject standards and curriculum, conducted teacher training and financed the labs of "Microelectronics", "Telecommunication Studies", and "Information Technologies". In general, VivaCell-MTS provided about 70 million AMD for implementation of the program.
Synopsys Armenia contributed to the development of “Microelectronics” standards and curriculum development as well as the teacher training on "Microelectronics" subjects.
"Unicomp" participated in the development of the "Information Technology" subject standards and curriculum, conducted teacher training and upgrading of IT laboratories at schools.
