Reforms, events and innovations conducted by the Ministry of Education during the academic year 2014-2015

• For the first time since the 2014-2015 academic year, "Future Teacher Scholarship" was awarded to 300 students, who scored 500 or more points at the entrance examinations to higher education institutions, where teaching staff training is conducted, and who chose the teaching profession in first or second place in specialty selection.
• By the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers taking into account the proposals of the Ministry of Education, the young specialists, started their labor activities in secondary schools on the state order and continued their activities in these educational institutions for a period of 3 years, are paid a compensation payment in the amount of 60 AZN in order to pay for utility services and residential rent, and the young specialists, started their labor activities in secondary schools, located at a distance of more than 20 kilometers from the district center, are paid additional payment in the amount of 100 AZN per month to monthly salary within 3 years.
• "Ethical rules of conduct of teachers" were approved by the Order of the Minister of Education. According to the rules, in the academic year 2014-2015, the newly hired teaching staff started their activities by taking a "Teacher's Oath".
• Trainings were organized on the basis of the modern professional standards for school principals and other individuals wishing to become a school principal. 15 people, successfully passed the trainings and received the Certificate of Quality, were appointed directors of secondary schools of the capital.
• Since the academic year 2014-2015, "Healthy education class" was established in 6 secondary schools of Baku and Sumgait within the framework of the project of “Healthy Education – Healthy Nation”.
• In the academic year 2014-2015, 573 people were sent abroad to study within the framework of the “State Program on education of Azerbaijani youth in foreign countries in 2007-2015”.
• Since the academic year 2014-2015, SABAH groups started to operate in 7 higher education institutions of our country. 755 students are studying in 34 specialties in SABAH groups.
• Since the academic year 2014-2015, optional course "History of Karabakh" is taught in 8th grades of secondary schools. The program and teaching aids of optional course were published and delivered to schools.
• According to the Order of President Ilham Aliyev on raising the teaching load and the salaries of teachers working in state secondary schools, whose knowledge and abilities undergo diagnostic evaluation, the salary and teaching load of teachers were increased.
• The "Action Plan related to the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan" was approved by Order of the President Ilham Aliyev.
• Competition was held for recruitment to the posts of deputy director for educational work, deputy director (organizer) for pastoral work and laboratory assistant in secondary schools.
• Since the academic year 2014-2015, taking into account the need for teaching staff in secondary schools of our country, the number of specialties on retraining education was increased and  teacher training started on mathematics, computer science, chemistry and biology, history and geography specialties.
• "Leadership and management" trainings were held within the framework of the project entitled "Improvement of knowledge and skills of managers and teaching staff in initial vocational education institutions”.
• The Ministry of Education organized a training course within the framework of “Təməl” Scholarship Program for primary school teachers who teach in 4th grade of schools operating in Baku.
• A Decree was signed on the implementation of the project on "Application of inclusive education in primary education level" intended to involve children with disabilities in inclusive education in secondary schools.
• This year, subject Olympiads in mathematics and natural sciences were held on the basis of the new rules.
• Training Centers for international subject Olympiads were established in Sumgait and Baku.
• Azerbaijan won the right to host the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad. Schoolchildren from nearly 80 countries will participate in this Olympiad.
• A series of measures, aimed at improving relations between universities of Azerbaijan and France, were taken.
• Reading clubs were established in secondary schools in order to improve students' reading culture and reading motivation, to create community which organized reading under educational institution.
• 50 secondary schools were provided with mobile carts, “Biochem” and “Physio” Lab discs, Intel tablets by the Ministry of Education with the purpose of modernization of laboratories in secondary schools.
• Electronic Textbook Portal (www.e-derslik.edu.az), enabling the learners to read textbooks in an electronic format, was put into operation.
•  www.e-resurs.edu.az portal was established in order to concentrate electronic educational resources in one source. Portal allows access to the e-textbooks, video-lessons, contests, e-tasks, various games and other educational resources.
• "ASAN school" section began to operate in the regional "ASAN service" center, putting into operation in Barda region.
• For the first time since the 2014-2015 academic year, the Ministry of Education started to implement the admission process through the electronic system in order to create an optimal and efficient implementation mechanism in the admission of children to the first class of secondary schools, lyceums and gymnasiums operating in Baku.
• Since the academic year 2014-2015, the school readiness groups were established in secondary schools subordinated to the Baku city Education Department. Children, involved in these groups and celebrated their 6th birthday from September 15 to December 31, are admitted to secondary schools out of competition.
• Recruitment of teachers is carried out on the basis of the new system in a centralized manner by the Ministry.
• The zonal competitions are held among schoolchildren in 14 kinds of sports, included in the program of the European Games in order to promote the Baku 2015 First European Games.
•  "SABAH Volunteer" program of students of "SABAH" groups are carried out in order to participate as a volunteer in the Baku 2015 First European Games.
• In the academic year 2014-2015, 111 839 pupils will finish 9th grades, 90 557 will finish 11th grades of secondary schools of our country, as well as 820 pupils will finish 12th grades of correspondence and evening schools.