13:00, 2 April 2011

Municipal kindergartens in Yerevan become free of charge for parents

From April 1 on, more than 160 kindergartens in the capital of Armenia, which are under the jurisdiction of the Mayoralty, became free of charge for children's parents. The decision was made by the city Board of Elders at the sitting held on March 15.

The Mayor of Yerevan Karen Karapetyan noted that the city administration made this important step with the account of social significance of the problem and the projected increase in the number of children attending kindergartens. At the moment, Yerevan-based kindergartens take about 25,200 children.

Earlier the monthly fee at public kindergartens ranged from 4000 to 8000 drams (about 15-30 US dollars). The Mayoralty people are sure that the new funding scheme will not affect the quality of services rendered in kindergartens. On the other hand, the caregivers are concerned that the kindergartens might grow overloaded.

In other cities of Armenia kindergartens are still toll; many of them see shortage of preschool educational institutions.

Author: Inessa Sargsyan

Source: CK correspondent