Number of higher school applicants in Armenia decreases, stands at 12,000

Number of higher school applicants in Armenia decreases, stands at 12,000 –

This year applicants’ number to higher educational institutions has decreased by 2,500-3,000 compared to last year’s, standing at 12,000, according to Mher Melik-Bakhshyan, vice-rector of the Khachatur Abovyan Teachers Training University. 

Those born in 1996-1997 are graduating this year and as is known the birthrate for those years was very low, thus the decrease in the number of applicants is conditioned by that. However, specialists of the field say that the phenomenon is conditioned also by the model applied in high schools, when many do not even continue their education after leaving high school, as well as by elevating the level of collages which results in the opinion that they have received proper education and do not need to apply to a higher educational institution.

“To our joy the number of our applicants is not that low. Last year we had 1,680 applicants and this year – 1,620. We did not suffer much; of course, there are professions with higher demand among applicants. We do not have lack of applicants for humanities, but there are some ‘gaps’ in fields of physics and mathematics. We hope to have more students upon their choice of second, third or fourth preference,” said Melik-Bakhshyan adding that there are no new professions opened at the Pedagogical University this year, but two years ago clothes designing department was opened where there is no lack of students.

The secretary of the Yerevan State University assessment committee, Vachagan Galstyan, a few days ago said that 2,200 people applied to the University – 400 fewer than last year.