By signing a tripartite memorandum of understanding with the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy in Yerevan in 2016, Ayb School joined the PASCH initiative, a global network of schools where the German language is taught.
As part of the initiative, Ayb students annually receive scholarships (on a general basis and individually) to participate in international and local masterclasses, seminars, courses, summer camps, events, and competitions organized by the Goethe-Institut.
From 2016 to 2023, Ayb School had 22 scholarship holders and five international award winners.
The German language course has a special status in the school and is taught from grades 2 to 12.
Students are also allowed to participate in examinations for obtaining German language proficiency certificates (Goethe-Zertifikat A1-B2). The exclusive right to conduct such exams outside Germany belongs to the Goethe-Institut. Every year, more than 60 students take exams, demonstrating a good command of the German language at different levels.
The PASCH initiative opens up great opportunities for German language teachers: they participate in advanced training courses, seminars, and conferences organized by the Goethe-Institut in Germany, Georgia, and Armenia.
During seven years of cooperation, Ayb School has initiated and organized various educational events with PASCH: seminars, meetings, study tours, working discussions for students and teachers, professional development programs, etc.
In 2018-2020, Ayb School, in cooperation with the Pforta School (Saxony-Anhalt), implemented a 3D modeling project, presented it at competitions in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt and elsewhere in Germany, and received prizes. The second stage of the project is expected to be implemented in the 2023-2024 academic year.
About PASCH initiative
The initiative is a global network of some 2000 schools that place a high value on German. PASCH partners provide advice to head teachers, ministries, and schools on developing German teaching. Seconded PASCH partner experts visit the schools to provide direct support. Fostering exchange between international and German PASCH schools is a particular priority.
600 000 students worldwide
Education projects, competitions, language courses in Germany or multinational summer schools abroad, learning materials, guidance services, or taster weeks at German universities: the initiative makes use of a variety of programs to motivate students at PASCH schools to learn German, promotes their language skills and helps foster intercultural dialogue.
Supporting teachers
The initiative supports German teachers at PASCH schools by providing regional and supra-regional further training courses, opportunities to see teaching in action in Germany, and grants for further training in Germany. Teachers are involved in local, regional, and supra-regional PASCH projects together with their pupils. These education projects foster ties between the schools, boost students’ language skills, and promote intercultural exchange.
PASCH partners
PASCH is an initiative of the Federal Foreign Office in cooperation with the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA), the Goethe-Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Educational Exchange Service (PAD) of the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany.
PASCH in Armenia
Armenia has 11 PASCH schools, three of which – Ayb School in Yerevan, Gyumri №25 school, and Chambarak №1 school – are coordinated by the Goethe-Institut.