Non-formal education - Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

well. In addition, NICARM gives references about qualifications to those of individuals who intend to
continue their studies or work in foreign countries, and provides accurate information to state agencies,
universities and businesses. Thus, today Armenia is implementing a feature of mutual recognition of
diplomas and other documents confirming educationin accordance with international and European
standards.
According to the RA law “On education”, the organizational basis of the state policy in the field of
education is the state program of education. The current “State Program of Education Development
for 2011-2015” was developed in accordance with the provisions of the National Security Strategy of
the Republic of Armenia and “sustainable development programs.” The basis of the “State Program of
Education Development for 2011-2015” was also formed by strategic programs for individual sectors of
education and development concept approved by the Government of Armenia. The program, based on
what we have in the field of education, is aimed at the gradual development with a focus on priorities
and strategies.
“State Program of Education Development for 2011-2015” proclaims, “The benchmark in the
development of RA till 2015 should be the goals of “Millennium Declaration”, the global movement
of “Education for All”, and the principles of the Bologna Declaration, the Strategy “Education For
Sustainable Development “adopted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the “Programme
of Action Keogo for 2005-2015. “ At the same time, the development of the education system should
be aimed at improving the performance of global competitiveness in education, contributing to raise the
overall competitiveness of Armenia.
To achieve the goals of the strategy in the development of education until 2015 the following
tasksare proclaimed:
1. To raise the level of access to education at all levels, to create equal conditions for everyone to
achieve the highest quality of education in accordance with his inclinations and abilities;
2. To improve the quality of education, to bring it in line with international standards and ensuring
the satisfaction of society and the business environment of educational services;
3. To provide a permanent increase in the budget means to education and mechanisms for their
effective use.
Additional education, as an additional learning process aimed at improving the professional qualities
of the individual is based on special education programs, professional development, and is defined in
another law – the law “On the initial specialized (vocational) and secondary education.” Under this
law, it can be implemented through training, professional development specialists within the craft and
secondary specialized additional educational programs. At the same time the law determines additional
vocational education as “learning” and this term in a number of laws and regulations is related to the
field of vocational education and training (VET) and regarded as a synonym for additional education.
Higher vocational additional education as a process of training and retraining of specialists is
determined in the law “On Higher and Postgraduate Vocational Education”.
Retraining, as a form of supplementary education, is mentioned in the law “On General Education”.
Under this law, every five years teachers have to be certified, preceded retraining. Retraining is based
on a program developed by the state authority. In the sphere of general education authorized state body
also defines the requirements for the content of teachers’ training, approves the program of teachers’
retraining.
A term “adult education” in the legal field was first mentioned in the law “On the initial specialized
(vocational) and Secondary vocational Education,” which, however, does not define it. It states only that
the authorized management body of the RA Government and other bodies involved in the field of VET
within their authority in the organization of education and training for adults, training of the employees of
the sphere and the institutions of VET provide retraining and lecturers’ and trainers’ training, implement
education and training programs for adults.
Similar provisions exist in the law “On Higher and Post-Graduate Education,” according to which one
of the tasks of the higher education institution is retraining of science teachers with higher education.
A relation to permanent, including non-formal, education the law “On environmental education and
education of the population” have, which is prominent from this point of view, because it is of great
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