The social and economic upheavals that followed the earthquake of 1988 combined with the political collapse of the Soviet Union to create a catastrophic public health situation in Armenia.
Education has traditionally always been highly rated in Armenia - in a country, which has 1600 years old history of literacy. From the very beginning, the school has been the basis of the nation's political and cultural survival and the incentive for national progress.
Up to 97% of Armenians follow Christianity, which has existed in Armenia for over 1,700 years. Armenia has its own church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, which most Armenians follow. Christianity has a strong influence in the country, but there is a small presence of other religions too.