Yerevan, 13 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Armenian Science and Education Sergo Yeritsian refuted on 12 May recent allegations of widespread corruption within the country's educational system, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported.
Referring to charges by activists of the junior coalition partner Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun (HHD), Yeritsian argued that the educational sector was no less corrupt when it was run by his predecessor, HHD parliamentary faction head Levon Mkrtchian, and stressed that the corruption is exaggerated and simply "mirrors the overall situation in the country."
A youth group affiliated with the HHD launched a public campaign in November 2004, exposing cases of bribery and corruption in state-run universities involving students routinely receiving high grades in exchange for bribes to teachers.
A youth group affiliated with the HHD launched a public campaign in November 2004, exposing cases of bribery and corruption in state-run universities involving students routinely receiving high grades in exchange for bribes to teachers.