Yerevan, 18 November, 2008 – Today a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Tolerance Promotion in the Formal Educational System” was signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia, RA Ministry of Education and S

18.11.2008

Yerevan, 18 November, 2008 – Today a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Tolerance Promotion in the Formal Educational System” was signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia, RA Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), and the National Institute of Education (NIE). This framework cooperation document is aimed at supporting the MoES and NIE to build capacity for promoting tolerance within formal educational sector through the mainstreaming of tolerance in both the teachers’ training curricula and the educational programs (i.e. through the introduction of tolerance into textbooks and school curricula) with the aim to create a conducive environment to promote a culture of tolerance through the educational system.

The tripartite MoU settles a number of activities to be jointly implemented to enhance tolerance promotion in the school educational system through this project:

i) Integrate tolerance education into the secondary school, setting certain hours for tolerance
education through master-teacher hours;

ii) Develop methodology for further review of the curricula for 1-12th grades and the
subject (thematic) standards through tolerance prism, aiming to ensure tolerance
mainstreaming of all subject areas and curriculum.

iii) Upon completion of the Training of Trainers, tolerance education methodology will be
developed, including teachers’ training module and secondary school master-teacher’s
training module, master-teacher’s manual and educational materials for the students, etc.

UNDP will provide technical support for the Training of Trainers for MoES and NIE specialists, consultancy to support the process of development of tolerance methodology, and support the pilot training of teachers and publication of educational materials for tolerance education.

“It is not a coincidence that we are signing the MoU today on 18 November - two days after the UN International Day for Tolerance. The United Nations has always taken a keen interest in promoting tolerance through education, because it plays a central role in forming the views and attitudes of our future generations. It shapes attitudes and reduces stereotypes. As a result of our joint efforts we will come up with a methodology to educate Armenian future generations in the spirit of dialogue, respect for diversity and openness which has always been part of the Armenian culture,” said Ms. Consuelo Vidal while addressing the media at the ceremony.

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