
On July 29th, the training courses for biology teachers of the 6 new schools having joined the “My Step” Foundation’s “Horizons” Dual Education Program, kicked off at Goris State University. In the 2024-25 Academic Year, six more schools (secondary schools in Gorayk, Verishen, Akner, Harashen, Khndzoresk and Kornidzor) have also joined the 9 schools in the enlarged Sisian and Goris communities (secondary schools in Angeghakot, Brnakot, Shaghat, Shamb, Lor and Shaki, the high school in Sisian and High Schools #1 and #4 in Goris).
The professional training course for the biology teachers of the 6 schools was led by six professors of the Armenian National Agrarian University. After the course, the teachers will expand their subject-specific knowledge and teach “Agrotechnology” in schools.
Starting from August 2, teachers of the schools of the first stage will undergo training and will grind away at the curriculum for 12th graders. These courses will be held at the Sisian branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University, and social science and informatics teachers will also join the biology teachers and learn agrobusiness and precision agriculture, respectively.
The first day of the training course features lessons on agronomy and protection of plants, followed by agro-ecology and cattle-breeding.
“The subject-specific training courses are important in that professors share their academic knowledge with the teachers, who will go on to use that knowledge in the general education sector, taking into consideration the age-specific and psychological characteristics of the particular learner. The teachers participating in the Program have a large stock of professional knowledge, but since participation in the Program implies command and use of narrow professional knowledge, capabilities and skills, consequently, similar training courses are very important and necessary for effective implementation of the Program. The teachers are excited, open and willing to acquire new knowledge, capabilities and skills,” Director of the “Horizons” Dual Education Program Rima Grigoryan says.
The Program is helping raise very important issues related to agriculture and provide answers to them. The teachers participating in the training course say the “Horizons” Dual Education Program is an exceptional program since the pupils will not only attend theoretical lessons, but also a number of practical lessons which serves as a good opportunity for them to discover the peculiarities of the sector.
“This is a very successful program for development of the sector. There are great expectations from the training course. The Program is very satiated and interesting, and it serves as a good opportunity for us in terms of exchange of experience and knowledge,” Anush Mkrtchyan, biology teacher of the secondary school in Akner, emphasized.
“The final outcome of the Program depends on all of us. We need to put our heart and soul into this task. The Program will help the children make the right choice in terms of professional orientation and will help them want to stay in their respective regions and not leave their native village or hometown. The training course is very effective. There is always a need for us to learn, and I received a lot of new knowledge these past days,” Armenuhi Bakunts, biology teacher of the secondary school in Verishen, stressed.
The teachers’ training course will be followed by a summer camp that will be held for the schoolchildren and with a full agenda. This year, the “Horizons” Dual Education Program will be introduced as a subject at the outset of the 2024-25 Academic Year (September 1st).