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WELCOMING REMARKS BY PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AT THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF HANDING RA PRESIDENTIAL AWARD IN THE AREA OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
President.am
Nov 1 2010
Armenia
Dear Students and Schoolchildren, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cordially welcome you to the Presidential Palace. Our meeting is
taking place on the occasion of handing educational Awards of the
President of the Republic of Armenia in the area of information
technologies which has become a good tradition.
The role of information technologies in contemporary life is great
indeed. It's not by chance that development and implementation of
information technologies in business and every day life for many
are comparable to the revolution made by the invention and spread
of printing.
It is also no chance that I have given that particular example. Very
soon, we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Armenian
book printing. It is an interesting fact that after German Johannes
Guttenberg invented the printing machine, we, the Armenians started
to use it almost instantly. Moreover, the Armenian people were the
first in this region to start printing books. Yielding to our close
and distant neighbors in terms of population size, territory and
resources we never yielded our progressive nature and literacy. It
means that we have legacy enforced by our history, which must be
followed and handed to the next generations with our heads held high.
Dear Friends,
For many years, we have been carrying out works in our country aimed
at the computerization of our schools. In 2004-2009, 1153 schools in
Armenia were equipped with computers. Currently, the pupil/computer
ratio in our secondary schools is 1 to 30, compared to 1 to 400 in
2003. Nevertheless, the number of computers in our schools is not
sufficient yet. For comparison, it would suffice to say that in the
developed countries that ratio is 1 to 5. When we achieve the ratio of
1 to 2 or 1 to 1, only then we can truly state that we are a highly
competitive nation and that by the level of our competitiveness we
are second to none.
Obviously that such level of computerization of our schools can not be
viewed as adequate. Based on that understanding, we launch a priority
program for the enhanced computerization of the secondary schools. It
is largely aimed at the modernization of our educational system as
well as amplification of the communication opportunities and open
contacts among the teachers, pupils and parents. Furthermore, these
improvements will not be limited to the capital of the Republic but
will become available for even the remotest communities.
The program is to be implemented in November-December 2010 and the
schools will be furnished with the up to date computer equipment. Our
short-term goal is raise by the end of the year the pupil/computer
medium ratio up to 1 to 25 instead of 1 to 30, while the long-term
objective is to get closer to the ratio that exists in the developed
countries. I am confident that the present and all future efforts
will constantly augment the new army of gifted children like you.
Generally, we should realize that nowadays organization of public life
itself requires a wider application of information technologies. I
trust you are well familiar with the expressions "e-society" and
"e-governance". We have already come up with a number of initiatives
which are aimed at the providing state services electronically, i.e.
much faster, less expensive, more efficient and most importantly, free
of bureaucratic red tape. This approach toward providing services
can be very inclusive - from tax collection to the registration
of enterprises or licensing, from providing health care to the
organization of elections. There is no alternative; we have no right to
lack behind global developments and we will not. And all the steps that
are being taken by the Government on this direction will be raising
the importance of the young boys and girls like you in our society.
Dear Awardees,
I cordially congratulate you on winning this award. Accepting this
award today you assume also an important mission. Today, you are called
to play the role that once was played by Hakop Meghapart and Voskan
Erevantsi. Furthermore, taking into consideration rapid development
of information technologies and their immediate spread all over the
world, you can play that role not only for your own nation but for
the humankind.
I sincerely wish, dear friends, that this award, which is your first
significant accomplishment in this area, becomes the starting point
of your future growth.
We will find ways and means to encourage your studies and work in
this area. Today, in your person, I once again appeal to our young
people to build their future based on knowledge and creativity.
I would like to stress once again that we are a nation of independent,
brilliant and entrepreneurial individuals and due to these qualities we
possess the most essential capital wanted in the area of information
technologies - inspiration and talent. Money, state borders, huge
armies are powerless against inspiration and talent. Hence, in the
area of information technologies we have a boundless potential for
development.
Dear Friends,
I thank the Armenian branch of Synopsis Company. This award is our
joint project. I also thank all those individuals who have brought
their contribution to the realization of this program.
However, my most profound words of gratitude I address to you,
dear awardees, to your parents and families who share the joy of
your success. This is your first step, and I am confident that new
achievements are already on their way.
I congratulate and thank you all.
From: A. Papazian
President.am
Nov 1 2010
Armenia
Dear Students and Schoolchildren, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cordially welcome you to the Presidential Palace. Our meeting is
taking place on the occasion of handing educational Awards of the
President of the Republic of Armenia in the area of information
technologies which has become a good tradition.
The role of information technologies in contemporary life is great
indeed. It's not by chance that development and implementation of
information technologies in business and every day life for many
are comparable to the revolution made by the invention and spread
of printing.
It is also no chance that I have given that particular example. Very
soon, we will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Armenian
book printing. It is an interesting fact that after German Johannes
Guttenberg invented the printing machine, we, the Armenians started
to use it almost instantly. Moreover, the Armenian people were the
first in this region to start printing books. Yielding to our close
and distant neighbors in terms of population size, territory and
resources we never yielded our progressive nature and literacy. It
means that we have legacy enforced by our history, which must be
followed and handed to the next generations with our heads held high.
Dear Friends,
For many years, we have been carrying out works in our country aimed
at the computerization of our schools. In 2004-2009, 1153 schools in
Armenia were equipped with computers. Currently, the pupil/computer
ratio in our secondary schools is 1 to 30, compared to 1 to 400 in
2003. Nevertheless, the number of computers in our schools is not
sufficient yet. For comparison, it would suffice to say that in the
developed countries that ratio is 1 to 5. When we achieve the ratio of
1 to 2 or 1 to 1, only then we can truly state that we are a highly
competitive nation and that by the level of our competitiveness we
are second to none.
Obviously that such level of computerization of our schools can not be
viewed as adequate. Based on that understanding, we launch a priority
program for the enhanced computerization of the secondary schools. It
is largely aimed at the modernization of our educational system as
well as amplification of the communication opportunities and open
contacts among the teachers, pupils and parents. Furthermore, these
improvements will not be limited to the capital of the Republic but
will become available for even the remotest communities.
The program is to be implemented in November-December 2010 and the
schools will be furnished with the up to date computer equipment. Our
short-term goal is raise by the end of the year the pupil/computer
medium ratio up to 1 to 25 instead of 1 to 30, while the long-term
objective is to get closer to the ratio that exists in the developed
countries. I am confident that the present and all future efforts
will constantly augment the new army of gifted children like you.
Generally, we should realize that nowadays organization of public life
itself requires a wider application of information technologies. I
trust you are well familiar with the expressions "e-society" and
"e-governance". We have already come up with a number of initiatives
which are aimed at the providing state services electronically, i.e.
much faster, less expensive, more efficient and most importantly, free
of bureaucratic red tape. This approach toward providing services
can be very inclusive - from tax collection to the registration
of enterprises or licensing, from providing health care to the
organization of elections. There is no alternative; we have no right to
lack behind global developments and we will not. And all the steps that
are being taken by the Government on this direction will be raising
the importance of the young boys and girls like you in our society.
Dear Awardees,
I cordially congratulate you on winning this award. Accepting this
award today you assume also an important mission. Today, you are called
to play the role that once was played by Hakop Meghapart and Voskan
Erevantsi. Furthermore, taking into consideration rapid development
of information technologies and their immediate spread all over the
world, you can play that role not only for your own nation but for
the humankind.
I sincerely wish, dear friends, that this award, which is your first
significant accomplishment in this area, becomes the starting point
of your future growth.
We will find ways and means to encourage your studies and work in
this area. Today, in your person, I once again appeal to our young
people to build their future based on knowledge and creativity.
I would like to stress once again that we are a nation of independent,
brilliant and entrepreneurial individuals and due to these qualities we
possess the most essential capital wanted in the area of information
technologies - inspiration and talent. Money, state borders, huge
armies are powerless against inspiration and talent. Hence, in the
area of information technologies we have a boundless potential for
development.
Dear Friends,
I thank the Armenian branch of Synopsis Company. This award is our
joint project. I also thank all those individuals who have brought
their contribution to the realization of this program.
However, my most profound words of gratitude I address to you,
dear awardees, to your parents and families who share the joy of
your success. This is your first step, and I am confident that new
achievements are already on their way.
I congratulate and thank you all.
From: A. Papazian