Ministry of education and science national center of educational technologies

2008 - 2010

ACTIVITIES’ STRATEGIC

PROGRAM

C O N T E N T S

In accordance with RA government decision 408-N, March 11, 2004 “National Centre of Educational Technologies” (NCET) state non-profit organization was founded. NCET’s mission is to develop modern educational environment in Armenia and the objective of its activity is to integrate ICT in comprehensive schools in Armenia and ensure their further availability.

In accordance with the above mentioned decision NCET’s Constitution where the main activities of the organization are defined was approved.

1. 
   to provide comprehensive schools with up-to-date computer facilities;
   

2. 
   to integrate universal computer network among comprehensive schools;
   

3. 
   to provide comprehensive schools with internet;
   

4. 
   to open computer training centres in comprehensive schools;
   

5. 
   to systematize educational ICT curriculums in Armenia;
   

6. 
   to enlarge teachers’ computer competence by means of training;
   

7. 
   to develop and operate comprehensive schools internet portals;
   

8. 
   to develop computer tutorials and curriculums, publish and provide for comprehensive schools;
   

9. 
   to dispose computers leasing and working assets;
   

10. 
    to develop of educational information and communication environment gradually involving secondary and high special institutions in universal computer network.
    

1. 
   organization work aimed at realization of 2-nd and 3-rd stages of “Education Quality and Relevance Project” was performed. With the objective to involve comprehensive schools in the process of providing them with computers in 2005 contracts were concluded with 198 schools and in 2006 440 preliminary applications were accepted.
   

2. 
   Data base containing information about schools equipped by computers was created. Current counting of computer equipment of schools in Armenia was made.
   

c) Demands necessary for development and introduction of portal of comprehensive schools were worked out, current consultations, investigations analysis were organized for the further use of Internet Portal .

• 
  program 04.03.04 – Within the framework of general education program support government assistance to NCET SNPO (135121.9000 thousand drams ) for the realization of “ Internet maintenance and computer equipment preservation in the schools of Armenia” program;
  
• 
  program 04.03.18 – Within the framework of general education program support government assistance to NCET SNPO (37541.9 thousand drams).
  

On January 2007 the following program of NCET activities was approved at the board of the organization.

Maintenance of Armenian Schools Internet Network (ASIN), management and preservation of computer equipment, NCET staff training.

Investigation of ASIN technical possibilities and analysis, internet expansion by involving new schools in ASIN.
b) Current consultations and investigations of Internet Portal in the stages of its creation, testing and introduction, technical maintenance and management.

To create data base of educational documents, systematize tutorials, to describe materials introduced in the Portal with the aim of creating a whole information and communication environment and providing the Portal with content.

Training of the staff maintaining the Portal.
c) Realization of “Education Quality and Relevance Project”, accepting preliminary applications from schools, considering them and registration with the aim to provide comprehensive schools with computers and create computer training centres.

d) Current counting of computer equipment in schools, registering the results of counting in data base, systematizing and analyzing them.

• 
  A work sample of the agreement and a project calendar were worked out;
  
• 
  Different meetings and discussions, as well as consultations were organized in Tsakhadzor, and Yerevan with the participation of RA Ministry of Education and Science (MES), USA embassy in Armenia, “Project Harmony”, “Harmonia” Fund, NCET, “Education Program Centre” office staff;
  
• 
  Business visits to Eghegnadzor, Vanadzor, Armavir, Gyumri to get acquainted with local network structure, equipment and work in places, to Ani Pemza to get acquainted with the mobile internet station;
  

• 
  Meetings and discussions with leading internet providers in Armenia were organized;
  
• 
  Current inquiries concerning internet availability in schools were made and the results were presented to “Project Harmony” and “Harmonia” Fund;
  
• 
  Negotiations were held with State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) for the purpose of installing ASIN unit in SEUA, contract on technical maintenance of the central unit was concluded and on June 13 the equipment was installed in SEUA;
  
• 
  The list of ASIN equipment and inventory presented by “Project Harmony” to be transferred to MES was examined and suggestions were made concerning their distribution and use;
  

• 
  An open tender was announced on ASIN maintenance and management for 2007. With the winner of the tender “Harmonia” Fund a contract was concluded on rendering “Armenian Schools Internet Maintenance” service.
  

b) ASCP the main component of which is ASIN was accepted from “Project Harmony”. The following work connected with ASIN maintenance and management has been performed since July 1, 2007.

• 
  Daily control of ASIN activity, acceptance of current and monthly reports from ASIN maintaining organizations and their consideration;
  
• 
  Establishment of two-way business relations with ASIN schools, sending instructions on the maintenance of internet at schools, consideration of the received answers and suggestions;
  
• 
  Organisation of NCET and “Harmonia” Fund regional office staff joint meetings for the purpose to ensure productivity of the control over the maintenance of ASIN, discussion of the problems of cooperation;
  
• 
  Providing “Harmonia” Fund staff maintaining ASIN with workplace in NCET and furnishing;
  
• 
  Training NCET ASIN maintaining and managing staff;
  
• 
  Declearing open tender and drawing up a claim for purchasing new ASIN communication equipment to replace the damaged one;
  
• 
  Drawing up a claim for purchasing Armenia Schools Internet Maintenance” service for 2008.
  

3. 
   In the 1-st stage of development of Comprehensive Schools Internet Portal current consultations and experiments were made.
   

In order to stimulate the use of modern information and communication means such as digital devices, internet, e-mail by students, there was organised a photographic competition “ My good teacher, my friend”

Preperative work was performed to organise on-line education and discussions.

4. 
   NCET official internet site www.ktak.am was put to use. Translations of such page as “Organisation’s News”, “ICT News” of “News” section, advertisements, reports about the organisation’s activities were made. A new “NCET regional empoloyees page” was introduced.
   

e) with the objective to realize “Education Quality and Relevance Projet” the following work was performed: comprehensive schools were provided with computers and school computer training centres were created (SCTC).

• 
  Applications from 329 schools were received to involve them in the 4-th stage of the credit program;
  

• 
  Organization and participation in agreements signing between the office of “Centre for Education Projects” and schools on purchasing computer devices.
  

f) Database of computer equipment and other modern facilities in Armenian Schools was put to operation. Definition of current counting of computer equipment in schools, information about integration of schools and registration of the results in database. Brief information concerning computer facilities in schools was given to interested organizations such as Education Departments of Yerevan, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Kotayk regions, National Institute of Education, “Educational Programs Centre”.

• 
  negotiations were conducted with the representatives of Microsoft Armenia office about implementation of electronic management, legalization of software, protection of copyright interests, application of methodological materials concerning modern technologies with their further translation into Armenian;
  
• 
  Besides the problems of cooperation and co-assistance, the question of printing and distributing of the developed three curriculums were raised at the meeeting with the director of Armenian branch of OSI AF and project managers;
  
• 
  Together with the Institute of National Education the presentation of education and information system of “Kvazar-Micro-Techno” Company famous in the field of new educational technologies was organized with the participation of the representatives of many interested organazations.
  

k) The staff of NCET participated in many events dedicated to the main problems of education, particularly:

• 
  Global Forum on Youth and ICTD initiated by United Nations Organization, International Telecommunication Union and other influential international organizations (Geneva);
  
• 
  International seminar-conference “Interactive Technologies in Education, Problems and Solutions” organized by Yerevan State University, “Firma Alfa” LTD, Mitsubishi Electric Corp (Japan) and SMART Technologies Inc.(Canada);
  
• 
  Discussions of the computer curriculum “Armenian Grammar for 7-9 forms “ developed by “B MML” Company.
  

l) On October 26-28, 2007 NCET participated in 'Digitec" third International Information and Communication Specialized Exhibition demonstrating its own exhibits.

• 
  Within the framework of World Bank “Education Quality and Relevance” project 2670 computer facilities were intalled in 572 schools in 2005-2006, 1300 computers will be istalled in 340 schools in 2007, and 330 more schools will receive computers in 2008;
  
• 
  During 2003-2007 “Project Harmony” organization with the participation of “Harmonia” Information Fund implemented “Armenian Schools Connectivity Program” within the frames of which internet network was created and put to operation in 330 schools of Armenian Regions. In 2005-2007 this project was co-financed at the expense Armenian Republic state budget funds. In the first half-year of 2007 this project was transferred to MES and on July 1 ASIN maintenance and preservation, as it was mentioned above, is realized at the expense of the funds stipulated: state budget program 04.03.04;
  
• 
  With the assistance of Armenian branch of OPI AF 11 tutorials were worked out, which were installed and put to operation in about 630 schools;
  
• 
  During 2004-2007 many teachers of informatics and other subjects were trained.
  

Nevertheless the level of using IC technologies in Armenian education cannot be considered satisfactory, now the schools provided with minimum necessary number of computers make 30% of total number of schools in ASIN (by the end of 2007, after accompishing the 3-rd stage of credit program they will make 40%), only 22% of schools are involved in internet (ASIN), the number of tutorials, supplementary and methodological materials is extremely insufficient, school portal does not function (instead of the portal its analog “Educational Environment” website is functioning). In ASIN there is little informative work, very few teachers, including teachers of informatics that have necessary up-to-date level of knowledge of ICT and their implementation in practice, do not function on-line and distance learning/teaching systems (now organization and preparation work is done in this direction), electronic circulation of documents, are not used educational management systems, statistical data is still sent by ordinary mail or simply by hand etc.

The program of NCET for the nearest three years is developed proceeding from the analysis of the above mentioned situation, the materials presented in the first two parts of this document and the necessity to give solution to the following problems.

• 
  up-to-date ICT facilities, electronic manuals, text books and well trained teaching staff that are compliant with the requirements necessary for the improvement and development of the existing education system;
  
• 
  educational and information environment, consisting of up-to-date electronic information, great educational and cultural resources that allows to receive information necessary for teachers, students and other classes of society, exchange thoughts, viewpoints, ideas, electronic management of education system, ensuring equal possibilities for all classes of society, people, living in regions of Armenia, to receive information, on-line teaching/learning.
  

The development of NCET activities program for 2008-2010 was performed in accordance with by RA National Secutity Strategy (NSS) and RA Government Program (GP) paragraphs, which are quoted below.

• 
  Increased efficiency of reforms in education and science is an important guarantee for ensuring State, public and individual security and sustainable development and preserving Armenian identity (GP, paragraph 4.4.3);
  
• 
  developing and implementing competitive and efficient science and education policies, with a special focus on developing innovative technologies
  (NSS, chapter 1, paragraph 2);
  
• 
  Considerably improving the quality of Education and access to education (including higher education) for the disadvantaged groups of the population (GP, chapter 2);
  
• 
  implement a long-term state policy aimed at empowering the countrys scientific potential, restructuring educational system to comply with European standards and to meet the social and economic needs of the state, introducing modern education technologies (NSS Chapter 2);
  
• 
  Expanding the sectors in which contemporary information technology is applied by improving the quality of and the access to such services (GP, chapter 2);
  
• 
  Considering the role of IT development not only as a separate sector, but also as an important factor for achieving general economic growth, raising productivity and maintaining competitiveness in the global economy, The Government will remain focused on the implementation of IT products and services as well as the formation of “e-society” in the country (GP paragraph 4.3.7.1);
  
• 
  The Government considers increased country competitiveness a safeguard of sustainable economic development. To this end among other things, the Government’s economic policy during 2007-2012 will focus on enchancing production capacity promotion exports through the use of modern technology (GP paragraph 4.3.1);
  
• 
  The Government will pursue accessibility and access to internet ensuring sound competition in the market and conducting anti-monopolistic policy (GP paragraph 4.3.11.3);
  
• 
  Promote relevant information about Armenia and all branches of Armenian studies through the Internet, with the creation of relevant Armenian websites (NSS chapter 2, paragraph 4);
  
• 
  Threats to national security: ... the increase in urbanization stems mainly from a combination of inconsistencies in the labor market and a rural-urban division in access to education and living conditions, mostly notable in the capital (NSS chapter 1, paragraph 3);
  
• 
  Create equal starting conditiona for all young people for entry into scientific and social life, contribute to development and manifestation of human and institutional capacity of all young people (GP, paragraph 4.4.6).