Estonia carries out teacher training in Armenia

Data show that Armenian elementary school children struggle with reading comprehension. In an effort to support improved literacy skills, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) held teacher training in the provinces of Syunik in the south and Lori in the north. Participants learned more about teaching strategies to help students improve their functional literacy and text comprehension skills. They received Armenian-language worksheets, reading material and additional suggestions for continued study after the training.

According to Kristi Kulu, ESTDEV's programme manager for Education, continued professional development is integral to teaching.

"The broader goal of the training was to empower teachers through professional development so that they can find the best way to support their students and create a school culture based on cooperation," Kulu said.

A closer look at ESTDEV’s teacher education programme in Armenia

We sat down with Kulu, Anna Alen, ESTDEV's project advisor for the EU Eastern Neighbourhood, and Peeter Pals, the deputy head of the Estonian Embassy in Georgia, to discuss the details of the programme and its intended outcome.

What are the main needs of Armenian teachers?

Kristi Kulu: "When planning the teacher education project in Armenia, we collaborated with UNICEF Armenia to identify problem areas in education where we can provide support. Good functional reading skills are the basis for academic success, yet this is one of the biggest problem areas for Armenian elementary school students. The COVID crisis and the related restrictions on classroom instruction may have played a role in lagging reading skills and low test results, but teachers also need continuous in-service training on modern teaching methodologies.”

"ESTDEV will continue to support educational reform in Armenia." 

— Kristi Kulu, programme manager for Education

What does the Estonian education system have to offer?

Anna Alen: "According to PISA data, Estonian students’ reading skills have continuously improved. Reading skills must be practised constantly at all levels; kindergarten and primary school teachers lay the foundation for reading skills, and subject teachers develop their understanding of specific subject texts.

In Estonia, education field research and improved teaching professionalism have brought about good results and improved practices that can be shared with others. The training focused on providing effective, proven strategies and teaching methods for reading and text comprehension.

Professional development for teachers in Armenia, especially in the rural areas, is limited, so we received very positive feedback from the participants. As one teacher wrote, ‘I am happy to participate in all seminars-discussions aimed at improving the quality of education. I would like to see such discussions and seminars organised more often. Many thanks for the effective training and positive energy passed on by the trainers.’”

"Professional development for teachers in Armenia, especially in the rural areas, is limited, so we received very positive feedback from the participants." — Anna Alen, project advisor for the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood

What happens next? Are there plans for continued teacher training in Armenia?

Kristi Kulu: "After the training, participants were able to practice their new skills in their schools, and they also had the opportunity to discuss the questions with the trainers during online meetings. While the training took place in Armenia, recently, we were pleased to host an Armenian educational delegation in Estonia, which included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National Center for Education Development and Innovation (NCEDI) and teachers and school principals who participated in the training. ESTDEV's Armenian teacher education project and training programme will continue during the second half of 2024. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, NCEDI and the Children of Armenia Foundation, we are mapping out further opportunities for cooperation. ESTDEV will continue to support educational reform in Armenia.”

Why is it important for Estonia to support education in Armenia?

Peeter Pals: "Estonia is resuming development cooperation with Armenia, which has been on hiatus since 2015. After the Velvet Revolution in 2018, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, and the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, Armenia has started looking for new partners and friends and taken a clear course towards democracy and the West, trying to reduce its dependence on Russia. Today, Armenia is a clear regional leader in democracy indices and has a vision for further reforms. Like other allies and partners, Estonia has decided to support Armenia in these processes.

Armenia has made no secret of noticing Estonia's development cooperation, especially in the field of education in Georgia, and they are envious in a positive sense. Since a new education strategy is being implemented in Armenia, support was requested from Estonia.

The project also contributes to the Team Europe Initiative "Resilient Syunik", which brings together educational projects implemented in the province of Syunik province of Armenia. Due to its geographical location—far from the capital, Yerevan, and between Azerbaijan and Iran—Syunik is very vulnerable. After the 2020 war and the full restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity in 2023, more than 100,000 Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians have fled to Armenia, a large number of them to Syunik as the closest Armenian region. The influx of refugees and a geographically and geopolitically difficult location have presented challenges to local authorities.

By carrying out an education project in Armenia, Estonia fulfils several important development cooperation principles: the initiative came from a partner country, i.e. Armenia itself is interested in Estonia's educational experience; we work together with other EU member states, and the European Joint Initiative has been the basis for planning our activities; and lastly we support the resilience of a vulnerable region. In addition to Syunik, we are continuing our cooperation with the province of Lori as we had a previous partnership there.”

Read more: Armenia is reshaping its national curriculum development and teacher education with the help of Estonia | ESTDEV