Armenia Drafts Bill Reducing Universities Say In Tuition Fees

Armenia’s education and science ministry has drafted a bill reducing the powers of universities in deciding their tuition fees, and has sent it to the Cabinet’s approval, education and science minister Armen Ashotyan said.

This year five state-run universities, including the major Yerevan State University (YSU), and the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) have raised their tuition fees by 80-200 thousand drams (about $ 200-500) for first-year students. The move has raised a public outcry.

“The bill has been sent to the Cabinet and is expected to be looked into at a future session  and then sent to the parliament,” the minister said  Saturday during a meeting with representatives of student councils of Armenian universities.

He said the ministry will ask the Cabinet and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to deem this bill as urgent and discuss it at urgent parliamentary session.

During the meeting the minister spoke also about high prices at university canteens.

“From the start of the new academic year (it begins in Armenia from September 1) together with the rectors of universities we will monitor the enforcement of rigorous revision of prices in canteens, which should substantially differ from prices in downtown cafeterias. Student canteens are not the place for super-profits “, the minister said.

Armenia currently has 16 public and 35 private universities, as well as the Russian-Armenian (Slavic) University, the American University of Armenia and the French University in Armenia.