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There are 300 convicts in the penitentiaries of Armenia. They don’t have certificates of the 9^th and 12^th classes: the RA Deputy Minister of Justice Arpine Sargsyan voiced and added that the 12-year secondary education in our country is obligatory until turning 19.

According to Deputy Minister, without having relevant educational censorship, the person cannot have a job enjoying demand in the work market.

Thus, by the addendum to the law on Education the Government proposes not to spread the 19-year age restriction on the convicts serving a sentence of imprisonment in the penitentiaries, for whom more than 1 year has remained to be released at the moment of submitting in written form on the execution of the right to education. The convicts by their wish can execute the right to education at the expense of the RA state budget means.

According to Arpine Sargsyan, targeted, individual educational plans will be worked out. “/By this moment, about 100 convicts wished to take part in the process,” the rapporteur underlined and expressed hope that their number will increase.

The law will enter into force from August 1, 2022.

The (Head) Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport endorsed the initiative: The Chair of the Standing Committee Sisak Gabrielyan voiced. According to him, the initiative is aimed the execution of the right to the convicts’ education.

The deputies welcomed the initiative, highlighted the issue of the convicts’ education, as well as the availability of the educational books in the relevant institutions.

The deputies debated the item in the first reading at May 24 NA sitting.