Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan got acquainted with the programs implemented in Vayots Dzor and Ararat regions.

In Vayots Dzor region, Nikol Pashinyan visited Areni community, toured the newly built kindergarten building in the Yelpin settlement, got acquainted with the implemented works and the created conditions. Within the framework of the subsidy program, a two-story kindergarten with a total area of 700 square meters was built for 60 children, the yard was improved, and a 5-watt photovoltaic station was installed. The total cost of the program was about 383 million 175 thousand drams, of which 80%, 306 million 540 thousand drams, was allocated by the Government.

Next, the Prime Minister visited Ararat region, where he attended the opening ceremony of the newly built educational complex in the Paruyr Sevak settlement of the Ararat community. It was built within the framework of the Government's "300 Schools to be Built, Renovated or Reconstructed by 2026" program. The total cost of the program was 1 billion 700 million 249 thousand drams. The newly built educational complex is designed for 140 students, and the preschool for 40 children.

After the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister made a speech, congratulated everyone on the wonderful event, and noted that first of all he would like to thank the compatriots and citizens who work in Armenia, create results, and pay taxes, as well as those who may not be citizens of Armenia, but carry out economic activities in Armenia. “I want to thank all those citizens, businessmen who write out cash registers and invoices in their daily work, that is, make efforts to ensure that the turnover does not remain in shadow, that taxes are generated from that turnover,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The Prime MInister drew everyone’s attention to the fact that such buildings, schools are built, furnished, and their activities are supported under some component of the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. “If there is no money in the budget, then there is no school, no property, no sports ground, no road. All of this should be reflected in some component in the budget of the Republic of Armenia," the Prime Minister noted, adding that by receiving cash register receipts, these budget components gradually become 10, 100, 100 thousand, 100 million, 1 billion, 2 billion, etc., and a school is created.

Speaking about human well-being, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that it is necessary to allocate funds from the state budget to cover general needs, through which schools, roads are built, and salaries are increased. "I hope that these nuances are taken into account in the education standards. Our children must first of all learn what the state is and what statehood is, because the state is a mandatory condition for the well-being of each of us, a mandatory but not sufficient condition, because the state gives us the opportunity to receive education and make our education a greater outcome for our state."

The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to all those partners who participate and are involved in the 300 School Program, emphasizing that this program will be followed by another 300 school program, since there is practically no school in the republic that does not need major renovation, reconstruction, or construction from scratch.

The Prime Minister also visited the Youth Center of the Ararat community, which was renovated within the framework of the grant program. The total cost of the renovation works amounted to 34 million 743 thousand drams, of which the Government allocated 75.3%, or about 26 million 183 thousand drams. Nikol Pashinyan was informed that as a result of the implementation of the program, an area of 158 square meters of the building allocated by the community was renovated, furnished and equipped. At least 635 young people use the center’s services annually in the program areas undertaken under the grant application. As of January 1, 2026, 1,220 visitors were registered.

In the Nor Ughi settlement of the Vedi community, the Prime Minister attended the opening ceremony of a newly built preschool institution. The total cost of construction work within the framework of the subsidy program amounted to 327 million 736 thousand drams, of which the Government allocated 70%, 229 million 362 thousand drams. The kindergarten is designed for 90 children.

Then, the Prime Minister visited Artashat community and got acquainted with the reconstruction works of the Artashat high school. The total cost of the reconstruction works within the framework of the Government’s “300 schools to be built, renovated or reconstructed by 2026” program amounted to 1 billion 269 million 424 thousand drams. The reconstructed high school is designed for 462 students.

Nikol Pashinyan visited the renovated secondary school in the Vardashen settlement in the Artashat community. The Government allocated 134 million 279 thousand drams for the reconstruction works. The school is designed for 430 students.

In Masis community, the Prime Minister visited a smart livestock building established by the private sector in the Sayat-Nova settlement. The private sector established the livestock building using the Government's 2025-2029 cattle breeding development and "State support for the construction or reconstruction of small and medium "smart" livestock buildings and their technological support" programs. The state compensated the private sector with 17 million 500 thousand drams. 66 heads of cattle were imported under the program's compensation component. Another 26 million 400 thousand drams will be compensated in the near future. The head of the farm thanked the Government for contributing to the development of the agricultural sector through such programs.