During three post-revolutionary years (2018-2021), aggravated by the war and the pandemic, the government and the policy makers were busy with the following immediate tasks:
- Reorganization and optimization of the government structure, reconsideration of main the approaches to the management of education and culture, and development of draft laws in education and museums, which are currently in the process of discussion.
- The anti-corruption struggle and development of anti-corruption strategies.
- Reconsideration of funding concepts of infrastructures and activities.
The corrupt and monopolized economic and political system of the first three decades of independence used education and culture not only as an instrument of influence and political manipulation, but also as a means of personal enrichment of its representatives through illegal alienation, privatization and the sale of cultural objects, infrastructures (buildings, spaces) and other properties (for example, the case of some historical buildings that were illegally privatized by Minister Hasmik Hakobyan, etc.), the targeted annihilation of architectural heritage to clear the space for private investments, etc. All this resulted in the decline of infrastructures, and the loss of a significant part of the cultural heritage.
In general, projects implemented by the government since 2018 fall into several conceptual clusters: availability and financial accessibility of education and culture; stronger state control over financial management; modernization and optimization of educational and cultural infrastructures. Thus, a number of projects being implemented is aimed at closer cooperation and symbiosis of education and culture: better access for schoolchildren to theatres, concert halls and museums through special projects of state support for a certain number of tickets per person each year for everyone[1]; state supported encounters of schoolchildren with selected art objects, artists, musicians, and writers[2]; etc. The main problem with those projects is unavailability of a certain choice of cultural institutions and activities for children from provinces, which is to be resolved at the local level. Another project on modernization and restructuring of culture houses in the regions funded by a state foundation “My step” is aimed at the reanimation of cultural life in villages and small towns[3]. All those projects are supposed to change the situation on a short-term basis, until a new, well-grounded and long-term concept of development of education and culture is developed.
By analyzing public discourse on governmental strategies, one may come to a conclusion about the following main challenges in the related spheres:
- Lack of professionals in the spheres of management of education and culture. Three ministers and even more vice-ministers have already replaced each other and each one of them became an object of severe public criticism. A significant number of employees occupied in the spheres of culture and education demonstrate a poor level of professionalism and motivation, are steeped in corruption and conflicts of interest, with no readiness to improve their performance.
- A very complicated and unhealthy legal, structural and infrastructural heritage in terms of corrupt networks, contradictory legislation, numerous serious violations and risks to be faced and losses to be restored, and investigations still to be conducted.
- The problematic political situation in Armenia, aggravated by the war and the pandemics. Due to serious poitical challenges currently experienced by the country, the local discourse in whatever field or sphere becomes highly politicised and is being immediately used for political manipulations.
In general, the government is accused of a lack of effort and measures to fight the corruption, resumption of some previous methods of management and unprofessional approaches to reforms and transformations implemented. Thus, the new law on education which had been developing for two years, was recently sent to the Constitutional Court, which considered it not fully adhering to constitutional statements. Some managerial solutions like a structural fusion of some theatres and systemic changes in the management of the Opera House were publicly critisized and even led to public scandals. At the same time, changes of managers, personnel, and a strategic development plan in some museums had a positive impact on the sphere.
[1] see: https://escs.am/am/news/5819 and https://escs.am/am/news/5821
[2] See: https://escs.am/am/news/5820
[3] see: https://mystep.foundation/hy/our-work/188/
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