Vanadzor Technology Center hosted a workshop titled “READING HORIZONS” organized by NorArar Education NGO on July 28, 2023.
The workshop was about the problems of teaching and assessment of basic literacy, reading, and arithmetic, as well as the work being done to improve the situation in Armenia.
RPPC director Lilit Mnatsakanyan welcomed the participants and referred to the “Help Me Read” program implemented within the framework of the memorandum signed between NorArar Education NGO and RPPC. She emphasized not only the improvement of the effectiveness of the continuous development of the reading skills of children with reading difficulties but also the corresponding abilities of teachers.
The president of NorArar Education NGO Mher Davtyan and the head of educational programs Arpine Baghdasaryan presented the achievements and difficulties they met during the “Help Me Read” program and clarified the future tasks by analyzing professional experience and summarizing the results.
The speakers of the panel discussion were The president of NorArar Education NGO Mher Davtyan, RPPC director Lilit Mnatsakanyan, Koryun Khachaturyan, executive director of the “Hovnanyan Family Foundation”, Tatevik Davtyan, Programme Manager at the Cooperation Section of the European Union Delegation in Armenia, Alvard Poghosyan, UNICEF Armenia’s Education Programs Manager and Haghpat Secondary School director Hasmik Adamyan. Speakers addressed the issues of the early development of basic literacy skills, formation of sustained interest in learning and thinking skills, as well as development and implementation of effective mechanisms and methods aimed at developing independent reading skills of children with reading difficulties.
RPPC director L. Mnatsakanyan spoke about the works carried out by the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center to develop basic literacy, specifically referring to the methodological guidelines and workbooks developed by the RPPC. She emphasized that these workbooks ensure accessibility to education and therefore help all children to be involved in the learning process as well.
Representatives of various educational establishments, teachers, and other specialists in the field of education raised their concerns through active discussions, and shared their successful experiences, in particular, their methods aimed at improving reading skills, developing oral speech, and, as a result, stimulating interest in reading.
The specialist emphasized the importance of cooperation with the officials of this field and other partners as well to ensure the desired result of education.
