YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The process of full establishment of cultural education system in Armenia is in the focus of attention of the RA Ministry of Culture. As Minister Hasmik Poghosian mentioned at the January 12 press conference, large-scale work was done in this direction in 2008. In particular, 2062 students of country's 139 communal music and art schools' folk instruments departments were financed within the framework of the program under the title Teaching of National Instruments in RA Art and Music Schools. From 2009 this program will also involve children studying at wind and stringed instruments departments. The Minister said that an Assistance to Cultural Education Foundation with 10 regional representations was created last year for the purpose of promoting aesthetical education. Foundation's mission is to provide teaching-methodical and practical assistance to country's music and art schools. H. Poghosian also said that with Ministry's financing 54 children had a possibility to take part in various international festivals and competitions. According to H. Poghosian, 32 titles of music books were published last year, including methodical manuals written for modern Armenian composers' various instruments, textbooks, and scientific works, part of which was free of charge distributed among the basic schools. Republican and international competitions, festivals, and other events were held to develop music art. The Prospects of 21st, the National Gallery, Arno Babajanian festivals, Aram Khachatrian 4th International Contest, and others are among them.

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