Armen Ashotyan, the Minister of Education and Science, reasserted during a conversation with www.aravot.am his view on financing the field of science expressed a few years ago that it was ridiculous and nonsense that scientists were paid such low wages, twice less than teachers.
He said, “Certainly, scientists should be paid much higher wages, than they are paid today. The problem is the following – firstly, there are no sources of wages, secondly, we will raise the issue of structural reforms of science, thirdly, while counting wages, we will take into account that besides basic wages, many scientists will be able to get involved in thematic and other scientific projects, will get additional payment and will be involved in international projects. So they will actually get higher wages than provided for by the state budget. Certainly, the money paid from the state budget today cannot suffice. Show us where we can get it.” In response to our observation that roughly 2000 scientists of the National Academy of Sciences were not involved in the university system and their only hope was the basic wage, therefore, to raise at least their wages, one needed 350-450 million AMD, Armen Ashotyan said, “I would be glad, if it was so. However, they are all scientists, why should we discriminate? It is all science, regardless of whether it is in the academic institutes or the university system, the state pursues the same policy. If it had been a matter of 450 million AMD, I assure you I would have solved that issue long ago.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
