YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The credit system of education will be used for the first year students in the bachelor education sector of Armenian institutions of higher education in the 2007-2008 academic year. As Ruben Gasparian, the Chief of the University Professions Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science mentioned during the February 8 discussion taken place at the RA Ministry of Education and Science, passing to the credit systen will be carried out based on results of the experience earlier worked out for the system in some institutions of higher education. In Ruben Gasparian's words, passing to the credit system is closely connected with introduction of three-degree education system in institutions of higher education. In his words, the RA Government affirmed on that occasion in November of the previous year the program of events addressed to implementation of the Bologna principles presented by the Ministry. The program on passing to three-degree educational system was one of the primary tasks of the program. R.Gasparian mentioned that working groups on three-degree education, accumulation and passing of credits, creation of national system of qualifications, guarantee of quality and financing were created for implementation of complex reforms to be implemented in the higher education sector. In the words of Levon Mkrtchian, the Minister of Education and Science, to complete the complex reforms in the higher education system, they started negotiations with the Yerevan branch administration of the World Bank, and, most probably, they will in future have financial assistance as well. Levon Mkrtchian also mentioned that the process of higher educational reforms must be implemented in non-state institutions of higher education as well. During the discussion, the working group on passing to three-degree educational system in institutions of higher education presented the already worked out program which will be soon affirmed by the Minister. Other working groups soon will work out and present the program in a complete way to the Minister's adoption after what guarantees for implementation of the process will be decided which will be given to institutions of higher education.

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