Enrollment in Armenian schools for non-residents - article on the Move2Armenia website

Enrollment in Armenian schools for non-residents

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Enrollment in Armenian schools for non-residents
25.07.2022
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Families who have relocated to Armenia are very concerned about the education of their children. Going to school in a new environment is always exciting for children, but no less stressful for parents. And all because a mountain of questions arises regarding the local educational system, the possibility of studying in Russian and the procedure for enrolling non-resident children in schools. In this article, we will try to reassure you and give clear instructions on how to enroll your child in a local school.

Features of the Armenian school system

You can receive education on the territory of Armenia, regardless of citizenship or knowledge of the language. Many ethnic Armenians come to Armenia who have lived in Russia, Europe or America all their lives. Neither they nor the children of relocants will simply be able to master Armenian perfectly in a short period of time, and it is thanks to this fact that there are international schools in the country with the opportunity to study in Russian, English or French. 

The Armenian school system has some differences from the Russian one, but they are not great. For example, in 99% schools they have not used a five-point grading system for a long time: everyone has switched to a ten or twenty-point system. When moving to/from the country, the grades on the report card are easily converted to a five-point scale. The next difference is that full school education takes 12 years, but there is an opportunity to go to a specialized college after 9th grade. And the last important difference is that Armenian citizens are enrolled in first grade at the age of six. This scares many of our fellow citizens, since at six years old children are not always psychologically ready for school, but there is good news! By law, Russian citizens can send their children to school at age 7. Just keep in mind that all the children in the class will be a year younger than yours.

On the territory of Armenia there are many private Russian-language schools, plus completely Russian-language classes in public ones. You can find them in our directory. According to the “School of Russia” program (a standard program in all Russian schools), for example, the “Perspective” school, Nyberg School, school No. 21 under the Russian Ministry of Defense, and “Slavyanskaya” operate. For the most part, the education program is Armenian. This means that the child is obliged to study the Armenian language, history and literature. This fact confuses some parents, but if you think about it, there is nothing wrong with it. Teachers, as a rule, are very tolerant of the fact that NON-Armenians have difficulties in learning the language. They rejoice at even the small successes of their foreign students and help them master writing and speaking from scratch, no matter at what age the children enter an Armenian school. Let's not forget that Armenian is the state language.

I can tell you from personal experience: sitting over a first-grader’s handwriting at the age of 20 and crying over the Armenian letters was not easy, but very exciting! When entering RAU (Russian-Armenian University), all students are also forced to study the language and even take an exam. Therefore, the sooner the better.

Private or public school?

So, you are staying in the country for a long time and are going to arrange a child for school. Now you need to decide which one to go to. 

In Armenia, the law does not regulate in any way the assignment of children to schools at their place of residence. You can either be deployed to the nearest school or accepted to a school on the other side of the city. They refuse on legal grounds only if the classes are overcrowded and there is physically no room for a new child. 

A child’s admission to school is carried out through a conversation with the director. The only exception is the enrollment of first-graders. Enrollment in Russian-language classes in public schools is carried out through the platform haytru.emis.am. You need to choose a school and make sure there are available places.

You can also enroll your child in a private school. Such organizations differ from state ones mainly in that classes include no more than 15 people, and teachers have the opportunity to devote enough time to each child. Also, private schools sometimes use proprietary training programs that include atypical lessons, for example, pottery or even fencing. Often, the cost of study includes meals, electives and extended day groups for primary grades. This is a great opportunity to free yourself from the burden of homework in the evenings.

After a conversation with the director, your child will be invited to start classes, it is quite possible that the next day, so as not to waste time. You can bring the child right away, even if the package of documents has not yet been prepared (but according to the law, this cannot be done. It's just that the teachers and the director sincerely want to help the child join the team as soon as possible). You will need a standard package of documents:

  1. Completed application addressed to the director.
  2. Color photographs 3x4 (2 pieces).
  3. Document on temporary or permanent registration (required for first graders).
  4. Armenian social card (analogue of the Russian SNILS, issued at the passport office) or an amendment to refuse it.
  5. Original and copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport (some schools require a notarized translation into Armenian).
  6. Certificate about the child's health status.
  7. Report card with grades (for children over 2nd grade).
  8. Personal file from previous school.
  9. A copy of the passport of one of the parents.

Some schools accept children into the middle and senior levels only after successfully passing the test; this issue must be clarified individually. 

So, action algorithm for admission to the Armenian school for citizens of the Russian Federation:

  1. Select an educational institution.
  2. Call the reception office and check the availability of free places in Russian classes.
  3. Sign up for a conversation with the director.
  4. Prepare a package of documents from our list.
  5. Bring your child to school!

As you can see, everything is not as complicated as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to decide on an educational institution and collect a package of documents. We wish you and your children successful adaptation to a new place!

You will find even more details about enrolling in school in Armenia. in the FAQ article. If you have any questions, write to support @move2armenia_official.

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  • articles: 7
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Enrollment in Armenian schools for non-residents
  • Stepan
    03.02.2023 в 09:43

    A seventh-grader from Russia will also go to the seventh grade in an Armenian school, do I understand correctly? If in Armenia they go to the first class at the age of six, then there will be only a difference in age. Classmates are one year younger.

  • Zhenya
    01.02.2023 в 07:16

    Are there many private schools in Yerevan? How much do they cost to train? Is there an international school? If there is a twelve-year education in Armenia, is it possible to enter a foreign university after it? After our school, you need to unlearn a year at the university, only then you can.

    • july9990
      27.11.2023 в 19:46

      There are many private schools in Yerevan. Prices vary. For example, at the Perspective school – 8,000–14,000 rubles. per year depending on the class, and for children with registration in Moscow — is free. Dear school — Nyberg, price – $6840 per year.
      There are international schools teaching in a foreign language: CIS Armenia, European School Armenia, QSI – Quality Schools International, British International School (BISA).
      After graduating from school in Armenia, you can enter a foreign university. By the way, there are several foreign universities in Armenia, for example, the Eurasia International University, the American University of Armenia, the Fondation Université Française en Arménie and others.

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