The Republican Methodological and Training Center for Aesthetic Education of the Ministry of Education has launched a contest marking the 875th anniversary of outstanding representative of Azerbaijani literature Nizami Ganjavi. The contest involves children and youngsters aged between 11-17 from secondary and extracurricular education institutions in the cities of Baku and Ganja.  The contest aims to familiarize the young generation with different areas of arts through works of Nizami Ganjavi, encourage them to love classic literature, and discover their skills in fine and applied arts through Khamsa of the great poet. It also aims to promote Azerbaijani composers who wrote music to Nizami Ganjavi`s poems, popularize folk songs and develop performance skills. Winners of the contest will be decided by a jury panel of experts from the Ministry of Education, the Republican Methodological and Training Center for Aesthetic Education, Azerbaijan State Culture an Arts University, Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Nizami Ganjavi National Azerbaijan Literature Museum, Azerbaijan Union of Artists. Applicants to participate in the contest include 80 general education institutions, 16 lyceums and gymnasiums, three boarding schools and three creative centers. The first stage of the contest was held at the Republican Arts Gymnasium, and featured 129 and 42 performances in literary recitation and music categories. In Ganja, the first stage of the contest will take place in November. The second stage will take place at the Fine Arts Gallery on November 25-30, featuring fine and applied arts contest.

03/11/2016 10:51

Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada Christopher John Cooter on October 28. They discussed Azerbaijani-Canadian relations in the field of education and prospects for cooperation in accordance with the tasks set by the “State Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

02/11/2016 14:35

A ceremony was held at the International Mugham Center on October 27 to present student ID cards of the University of Strasbourg to students of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ). Participants in the ceremony included French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez, head of the Department of Science, Higher and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education Yaqub Piriyev, rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University Mustafa Babanli, representative of the University of Strasbourg Philippe Turek, teachers and professors of UFAZ and media representatives. French ambassador to Azerbaijan Aurelia Bouchez stressed the importance of cooperation and relations between the two countries in the field of education. She expressed her confidence that UFAZ project will be a success. The ambassador said that one of the three holders of Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 is an UFAZ professor. She said UFAZ students receive access to an online library of the University of Strasbourg. Head of the Department of Science, Higher and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education Yaqub Piriyev said UFAZ project marks a new stage in the development of cooperation in the field of education, which is an essential area of socio-cultural ties of the two countries. “This project will help Azerbaijani youth to familiarize themselves with the rich cultural and scientific legacy of France, and also pave the way for the expansion of cultural ties between our countries.” Student ID cards of the University of Strasbourg were presented to students of the French-Azerbaijani University. UFAZ is a joint initiative of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the French Republic Francois Hollande. French-Azerbaijani University announced enrollment in four disciplines in 2016/2017 academic year, with 143 young people admitted. Of them, 120 people were enrolled on a free basis, while 23 entrants were given fee-based places. Lectures at UFAZ will be delivered in English by an international academic staff of highly qualified French and Azerbaijani professors. Graduates will obtain a double degree.

02/11/2016 14:34

Performance of teaching staff at extracurricular education institutions in Baku will be assessed. The assessment will be conducted by the Department for Organization of Extracurricular Activities of the Ministry of Education and Allianz LLC. The assessment aims to ensure effective use of human resources for improving the activities of extracurricular education institutions. Results of the assessment will be used when dealing with teacher transfer and recruitment. The assessment will feature two stages – test and interview. The first stage will assess professional knowledge, ICT skills and logical thinking ability of trainers and teachers at extracurricular education institutions. The second stage will assess their language and oratorical skills, as well as their physical and mental health. The evaluation will take place in November.

31/10/2016 11:41

For the information of residents of Qazakh, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Shamkir and Gadabay districts! In accordance with November 2016 timetable of reception hours of government executives, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov will receive residents of Qazakh, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Shamkir and Gadabay districts at the Heydar Aliyev Center in the city of Aghstafa at 13.00 on November 4. IDPs with temporary residence in Qazakh, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Shamkir and Gadabay districts can also attend the reception. The citizens who want to attend may contact the Call Center of the Ministry of Education (hotline – 146) or register at http://edu.gov.az/az/contacts/request on October 26, 27, 28, 31, and on November 1 and 2, 2016. Those registered are requested to present, upon their arrival, a written description of the issues they plan to raise during the reception.

28/10/2016 10:49

The first English Center opened at Teacher Professional Development Institute on October 25. Participants in the opening ceremony included deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan Carole Crofts, British Council Azerbaijan Director Elizabeth White, as well as media representatives. Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov said developing professional competence of English language teachers was one of the key priorities of cooperation between British Council and the Ministry of Education. He said the English Center was equipped with a range of supplementary resources for self-study, extra-curricular activities and access to low-cost communicative skills classes. The Center will help to improve the communicative skills of English language teachers, Jeyhun Bayramov added. Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan Carole Crofts said the Center would organize teacher training programs, activities for teachers and mentoring support for English teachers. British Council Azerbaijan Director Elizabeth White expressed her confidence that the English Center would be a success. Participants of the ceremony then viewed the Center. The Center will hold a resource of 5,000 books, magazines, methodological handbooks, textbooks, classic and modern literary works, as well as DVDs, computers/tablets for student access equipped with English learning apps and the British Council digital resources. Center will also offer teacher development training sessions that will be conducted by professionals to be invited by British Council. It will also feature an English Club – a place where students and pupils can come to practice their English communicative skills through organized activities, can consult and borrow books, films, and other resources for English practice; where they can chat to other English learners in the English Club or online; where they can find out and access the best online learning materials. At the initial stage the Center will be used by a total of 81 teachers from 11 satellite schools in the area. The English Centers also opened at the Lyceum specializing in physics, mathematics and informatics of the Ministry of Education and the secondary school No. 23.

27/10/2016 11:04

A ceremony was held at Baku Vocational Lyceum No. 5 on October 20 to launch training sessions under “Pupil`s friend” pilot project. Participants in the event included employees of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Health, State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, management of Baku City Education Department, and media representatives. In her remarks at the ceremony, director of Baku City Education Department Mahabbat Valiyeva said the project will play a vital role in strengthening relations between teachers, pupils and parents. She highlighted duties of candidates, saying the activities of those successful will be regulated by the “Model Statue of General School” approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Month-long training sessions will be conducted by employees of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and Ministry of Health. The training sessions will provide an insight into rules of conduct in emergency situations, and the usage of personal protective equipment. The candidates will also be given instructions on emergency medical aid. Then the training sessions started at Baku Vocational Lyceum No. 5. “Pupil`s friend” is a joint project of the Ministry of Education and ASAN Xidmet. It aims to build a safe environment for teachers and pupils, provide first medical and psychological aid for them, educate and carry out diagnostic work for pupils, parents, teachers, staff and management of education and training institutions. The project is also expected to contribute to improving children`s personal qualities and ensuring their intellectual development, and encouraging their self-education and self-development skills. Candidates sat tests on October 2. An hour-and-a-half exam saw applicants respond to 50 questions, including on history, geography and culture of Azerbaijan, and logical thinking abilities. Selected applicants qualified for the interview, where preference was given to those involved in public and volunteering activity, and those having foreign language skills. Winners will be defined based on overall results, and the successful applicants will become “Pupil`s friend”. The project will initially be implemented in 30 general education schools in Baku, with the scale of the project to be expanded in the future.

24/10/2016 10:53

  Training sessions have been conducted at general education institutions under TOPs (creation of modern educational technology in physical education), a joint project of the Ministry of Education, British Council, Azerbaijan State Physical Culture and Sport Academy, and Sport for Development Public Union. The aim of the project is to equip physical education teachers with new skills on modern educational technologies in physical education and to create advantageous environment for the development of learners’ physical skills by creating opportunities for the protection of their physical and psychological health conditions at secondary schools. First training sessions under the project were conducted at secondary schools No. 95 and No. 238 in Baku. 150 teachers representing 72 general education schools in Baku and Sumgayit took part in the three-day professional training sessions on TOPs methodology. The training sessions featured discussions on the content of physical education subject, and practical studies using modern methodology. Teachers also received information on the guidelines on the usage of TOP Oyun methodological education cards. In order to evaluate the outcomes of the project, initial and final evaluation was conducted among the teachers and students by the Sport for Development Public Union.

24/10/2016 10:49

The Ministry of Education hosted a press briefing on rationalization of vocational education institutions on October 19. In accordance with the “State Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the Cabinet of Minister ordered rationalization of the network of vocational education institutions in the cities of Baku and Ganja. Director of the State Vocational Education Agency Famil Mustafayev said rationalization embraces a number of activities in strategic areas. “The process aims to coordinate the structure of vocational education system management with market economy principles, and modernize financial, technical and training resources.” He said: “State Vocational Education centers will be established and modern management system will be introduced in these centers. The centers will specialize in different areas of vocational education to meet the requirements of diversified economy and non-oil sector development. Based on the state-business partnership principles, the activity of the new Vocational Education Centers will involve partnership with employers to comply with the changing requirements of the labor market.” “The best practice of international organizations (UN, European Union, European Training Foundation, British Council, German Society for International Cooperation, Economic Development Co-operation Fund, Asian Development Bank, etc.) will be studied and applied in managing the Vocational Education Centers and organizing human resources development.” He said those wishing to study at the Vocational Education Centers will be provided with the opportunity to easily enter these institutions (ASAN Peşə project). “A mechanism will be developed to allow the successful graduates to easily advance to next levels of their study.” The centers will also ensure accessibility of education for people of all ages as it will offer a range of services for the elderly, including education, advanced training, and retraining. The event participants then responded to questions from journalists.

21/10/2016 11:40

Diagnostics assessment of knowledge and skills of teachers at state general education institutions will be conducted in 26 districts and cities in November-December, 2016. The assessment will involve teachers – on both a fixed-term and termless basis – as well as pre-conscription trainers at general education institutions in Lankaran, Astara, Lerik, Yardimli, Bilasuvar, Salyan, Neftchala, Qusar, Quba, Siyazan, Shabran, Khizi, Qobustan, Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Aghsu, Kurdamir, Ujar, Zardab, Aghjabadi, Shamkir, Goygol, Dashkasan, Samukh, Gadabay and Shusha. The diagnostic assessment will contribute to defining teachers` knowledge and skills, regulating their teaching load, increasing wages, and involving them in improvement trainings. The teachers who did not participate in the diagnostic assessment in 2015 as well as newly recruited teachers can also attend the assessment. The last two years saw diagnostic performance assessment of nearly 60,000 teachers at general education institutions in Baku and 12 districts of the country. These teachers had their weekly workload and monthly wages grow 1.5 times and 2 times respectively. This diagnostic assessment will contribute to increasing the number of the teachers whose wages grew to 100,000.

18/10/2016 18:18