YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2009 the RA Ministry of Education and Science has implemented almost all the programs planned at the beginning of the year. Minister Armen Ashotian stated this at a press conference held on December 22 to summarize the results of this year. In his words, "in 2009 the sector has suffered two stresses: the economic crisis, due to which the allocations to the sector have been revised, and the replacement of the minister". In the opinion of A. Ashotian, despite these two problems, the reforms have been efficient. "Nevertheless, all the tasks, which proceed from the programs and include legislative amendments and some issues of importance to society, have been fulfilled in our system," he said. According to him, they also attempted to deal with the problems that had remained unsolved for years, in particular the issue of financing preschool education. "This year a pilot project was implemented in 22 communities with resources of the World Bank's first credit program, and within the next 4 years this program will cover another 143 communities which have no preschool institutions," the minister said.

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