Azerbaijani fighters have won the 28th international junior judo tournament commemorating Hazi Aslanov. A total of 357 fighters from 10 countries contested medals of the tournament, where the Ministry of Education was represented by 38 athletes of the Olympic Reserve Specialized School No. 13. The judo fighters of the school claimed a clutch of seven medals, including four golds, one silver and two bronzes, to rank first at the tournament. Murad Abishov (46 kg), Jafar Akbarli (90 kg), Mehdi Zeynalov (55 kg) and Diana Shoranova (70 kg) won gold medals. Sabir Ismayilov grabbed silver in the 66 kg weight category. Nigar Hajiramazanova and Pasha Aliyev took bronze medals in the 40 kg and 73 kg divisions respectively, Azerbaijan topped the overall medal table of the tournament, followed by Georgia and Hungary.

09/06/2016 17:04

“Environmentally friendly products and agrobiodiversity” countrywide competition for schoolchildren continues. The competition is held under “Green network” environmental awareness campaign of the Republican Ecological Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Education. On June 7, the competition featured Baku zonal stage at Ethnographic and Ecological Center at Gala State History and Ethnography Reserve. This stage involved schoolchildren from both Baku and adjacent districts. The competition is organized by the Republican Ecological Education and Training Center of the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture. It aims to protect agrobiodiversity, engage schoolchildren in making ecologically friendly products, and improve their skills and knowledge. The two-stage competition features nine nominations. Participants submitted photographs and data on their year-long observations, agrotechnical events and cultivated agricultural plants to the organizing committee. A total of 1270 schoolchildren took part in the zonal competition, where they made presentations on daily activities, progress of practical experience and their achievements. The works submitted during Baku zonal stage were evaluated on a 100 point grading scale by a jury panel consisting of experts of the Republican Ecological Education and Training Center, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture. Schoolchildren who scored above 50 points qualified for the countrywide stage of the competition, which will take in Baku this October.

09/06/2016 12:43

The Republican Methodological and Training Center for Aesthetic Education of the Ministry of Education organized an event at the special boarding school for visually impaired children in Narimanov district to mark the 135th anniversary of Abdulla Shaig. Titled “My childish world”, the event aimed to familiarize children with works of Abdulla Shaig, the founder of the national children`s theater, and promote his legacy. Participants in the event included Honored Artist Rahman Rahmanov, director of Abdulla Shaig`s house museum Ulkar Talibzade, employees of Education Museum, teachers and schoolchildren. Speakers at the event highlighted the life and works of the poet. Schoolchildren recited Abdulla Shaig`s poems, performed songs composed on the basis of the poet`s lyrics, and did a sketch from his “Good support” verse novel. Speakers hailed the role of Abdulla Shaig`s works in children's development. Participants of the event then viewed an exhibition of schoolchildren`s drawings depicting characters and scenes from the poet`s works.

08/06/2016 18:08

The final stage of the countrywide futsal tournament involving the teams of higher and vocational education institutions was held at Baku Sports Palace on June 6. Participants in the opening ceremony included deputy Minister of Education Firudin Gurbanov, Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade, deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Ismayil Ismayilov, representatives of Futsal Federation, and heads of higher education institutions. The final game pitted the teams of Baku State University and Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport against each other. The academy`s team sealed the title of the champion with a comfortable 9-2 win. Baku State University ranked second, while Azerbaijan State Economic University finished third. Speaking at the award ceremony, deputy Minister of Education Firudin Gurbanov said that held for the first time, the tournament aimed to promote football among students of higher and vocational education institutions and effectively organize youth`s leisure time. He highlighted the measures taken by the ministry to develop sport. “The ministry is regularly holding competitions, tournaments and championships among pupils and students of general, vocational, secondary and higher education institutions.” He said that by hosting the first European Games Azerbaijan made great strides in the field of sport. Firudin Gurbanov said the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe to be held in a couple of days would again attract the world community`s attention to Azerbaijan. Then the award giving ceremony was held. The winning team, the second and third place holders was awarded a prize money of 3000 manats, 2000 manats and 1500 manats respectively. They also received the cup and medals. The performance of main referees and participants of the tournament was evaluated in seven nominations. A total of 800 students in nearly 40 teams competed in the countrywide tournament. The tournament was organized by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Student Football Federation in partnership with the ministries of education and youth and sport, and Azerbaijan Futsal Federation.

08/06/2016 18:01

On June 6, a media briefing was held to present “Maarifçi” Student Loan Fund and its website. Executive Director of the fund Rufat Mahmud said its founding was initiated by the Ministry of Education. He said the fund was established by several state higher education institutions, including Azerbaijan University of Languages, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry, Azerbaijan Technical University, Azerbaijan State Economic University, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Baku State University, Baku Slavic University, Ganja State University and Sumgayit State University. “The fund is designed to create equal higher education opportunities for students from low-income families, who experience problems with paying their tuition fees, through granting long-term low-interest loans to them.” “The students applying for a loan should meet a number of criteria. They should be citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, they should study at one of the founding universities and should also need financial assistance to continue their education,” said Rufat Mahmud. The event also provided an insight into the fund`s newly-launched website (www.maarifci.az). The website highlights the organization`s mission, activity, loan types and terms. Through the website students can also submit an online loan application, which was introduced with the aim of ensuring transparency and efficiency in the application process. It also provides information about how and who can apply, as well as the list of the required documents. The event also featured a question-and-answer session with journalists.

07/06/2016 10:20

The countrywide chess tournament has wrapped up. Organized by “Tahsil” Republican Sport Center in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the tournament aimed to promote World Chess Olympiad among schoolchildren. The team of Guba city secondary school No. 2 won the tournament. Lankaran city school and lyceum complex No. 4 ranked second, while Ujar district secondary school No. 1 finished third. The winners were awarded the cup, certificates and valuable prizes by the Ministry of Education. The tournament aimed to promote chess and World Chess Olympiad to be held in Baku from September 1-16, 2016 among schoolchildren and ensure parents` active participation in the school life. Launched in April, the tournament saw participation of around 55000 schoolchildren from more than 4000 secondary schools. Each team included an 8th or lower grade schoolboy and schoolgirl, a parent and a teacher.

07/06/2016 10:19

“Japan Day” was held at the Extracurricular Training Center No. 46 as part of the Year of Multiculturalism. Participants in the event included First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Azerbaijan Ko Obata, head of the Division on Child and Youth Creativity at the Ministry of Education Ayla Hasanova, teachers and members of creative groups. First Secretary at Japan`s Embassy Ko Obata highlighted nature, culture, arts, education system, traditions, language and cuisine of Japan. He taught children how to pronounce common phrases like “hello” and “thank you” in Japanese, and deciphered some hieroglyphs for them. Ko Obata said that Azerbaijan earned fame as a country where different ethnicities had lived in peace and mutual understanding for centuries. “The principles of tolerance lie at the heart of the country’s policy. 2016 was declared the Year of Multiculturalism with the aim of preserving, developing and promoting Azerbaijan’s traditions of multiculturalism.” Winners of the Japan-hosted 23rd International Drawing Competition – member of “Gunash” Arts Studio of Extracurricular Training Centre No. 46 Aytaj Guliyeva and member of the creative group at Nizami District Child and Youth Creativity Center Aisha Maarifova – were awarded certificates. The event also featured performance by a dance troupe of Nizami District Child and Youth Creativity Center.

03/06/2016 17:10

A competition to admit children into lyceums, gymnasiums and other general education institutions in the city of Baku has ended.   The competition was held in 15 general education institutions with the aim of discovering talented children and providing them with an innovative training process. Online registration for the competition to admit children into general education institutions in Baku for the 2016-2017 academic year was open from March 1 to April 10 at www.mektebeqebul.edu.az. A total of 4449 applications were received by the general education institutions. The competitions were held from April 15 to May 15, 2016 under internal regulations of each general education institution. A total of 2350 children were admitted into general education institutions on the basis of some selection criteria, including world view, mathematical knowledge, logic, psychology, creative and communication skills. Of them, 1144 got accepted to Azerbaijani section, and 1206 to Russian section. Competition was most fierce in the secondary school No. 23, where more than three children were chasing each place. Other educational institutions inundated with applications were Baku European Lyceum, Zakalar Lyceum No. 287, Elite Gymnasium named after Ilyas Afandiyev, School and Lyceum Complex under Baku Slavic University, and Ankara School.

03/06/2016 17:06

Statistics on the calls received by the Call Center (“Hot line” service, phone: 146) of the Ministry of Education and services provided by Citizens Reception Center in May of 2016 have been announced. According to statistics, a total of 12499 requests were received from citizens last month. Figures show that 8331 calls were registered by the Call Center in April (8.5 times more than in May of 2013, two times more than in 2014, and almost the same in comparison with 2015). Citizens Reception Center served 4168 citizens last month. The vast majority of requests (mostly for information) to the Call Center and Citizens Reception Center were immediately dealt with. Citizens Reception Center received and registered 1428 documents (794 letters, 474 written requests, and 160 other documents). The vast majority of requests (mostly for information) to the Call Center and Citizens Reception Center were immediately dealt with. Citizens Reception Center received and registered 1399 documents (752 letters, 447 written requests, and 200 other documents). According to statistics, the requests from citizens were about recognition (nostrification) of university degree documents (diplomas), recruitment and transfer of teachers, enrollment in secondary schools, transfer and reinstatement in local higher education institutions, and exemption from tuition fees. The majority of requests to the Call Center last month were made on Mondays (1859 calls) and Wednesdays (1836 calls) mostly between 10.00 and 12.30, and 14.00 and 16.00. The majority of requests to Citizens Reception Center were registered on Tuesdays (1130 requests) and Wednesdays (814 requests) mostly between 11.00 and 13.00, and 14.00 and 16.00.

03/06/2016 14:17

The Ministry of Education has announced a competition for the transfer of teachers, who are employed on termless contracts (on the permanent basis) in secondary education institutions and vocational schools, from one district (city) to another. The teachers who want to participate in the competition must submit an online application form through www.miq.edu.az. Applications close on June 12. Several changes were made to rules of the competition this year. One of them is that applicants will have the opportunity to choose a vacancy only after passing a test. Each applicant can choose four vacancies.

03/06/2016 14:13