There are no kindergartens in villages
The only kindergarten in the village of Zartonk, Armavir Marz, operated for a few months since Armenia declared independence in 1991.
We have an illiterate generation as children wander in the streets all day long. It is already a few years the run-down building of the kindergarten stands idle," said Grandmother Ofik.
Village headman Paruir Sargsyan says restoring repair of the building is among priority programmes of the village council.
Fifty-seven kindergartens operate in the marz today. 19 villages have no kindergartens and in 45 settlements the buildings stand idle.
The attendance is the lowest in Shirak Marz (12%). 95 of the 119 local kindergartens are closed today. The others are mostly located in the town of Gyumri.
The RA Ministry of Education jointly with the IMF and UNICEF is implementing a pilot programme of educational reforms in the marzes of Lori and Shirak. The programme aims to improve the quality and accessibility of preschool education, especially for children from disadvantaged families.
