On June 7, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received Finland`s ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan Arya Makkonen. They discussed Azerbaijan-Finland relations in the field of education and prospects for cooperation in accordance with the tasks set by the “State Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

08/06/2017 14:56

“EU Support to Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Azerbaijan” technical assistance project was launched on June 7. Participants in the event included members of parliament, employees of state bodies and private organizations, officials of the European Union and the European Commission and representatives of vocational education institutions. In his remarks at the event, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said that thanks to President Ilham Aliyev`s purposeful and well though-out socio-economic policy Azerbaijan has made great strides in recent years, the level of poverty was reduced to a minimum and Azerbaijan became a middle-income country. The minister stressed the importance of preparing highly-qualified specialists. “The establishment of the State Vocational Education Agency under the Ministry of Education, endorsement of “The Strategic Road Map for Vocational Education and Training” stimulated the creation of a vocational education system, which is based on state-business cooperation, and which is capable of meeting the national economy`s demand for highly-qualified specialists and addressing flexibly the current economic challenges.” Mikayil Jabbarov said the project aims to provide legal aid for the preparation of a draft law on vocational education and improve the legal base, expressing his confidence that the project will contribute to the development of vocational education. The minister highlighted the measures to ensure the development of vocational education in the country. He said 32 primary vocational education institutions in Baku and Ganja were rationalized and merged with 13 State Vocational Education Centers based on specializations. “Gabala State Vocational Education Center for tourism and agriculture was established on the basis of two vocational education institutions in the city of Gabala.” Mikayil Jabbarov said that under “ASAN Profession” project, starting from the past academic year children in the cities of Baku and Ganja started to be enrolled to primary vocational education institutions by “ASAN Xidmət” centers. He said that in the 2017 academic year it is planned to continue this process in other cities and districts where ASAN Xidmət” centers operate. Director Neighbourhood East at the European Commission Lawrence Meredith noted the importance of paying attention to the development of youth. Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Malena Mard highlighted cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan in the fields of training and education. Chair of the Milli Majlis Science and Education Committee Isa Habibbayli drew the audience`s attention to law reforms in vocational education system in the country. Director of the State Vocational Education Agency under the Ministry of Education Famil Mustafayev emphasized the importance of the project, saying it will play a key role in fulfilling the tasks set by the Strategic Road Map. Project manager Herman Sonneveld laid out the objectives of the project, and responded to questions from the audience. “EU Support to Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Azerbaijan” technical assistance project aims to increase the attractiveness of the public status of vocational education and training and improve it to labour market requirements.

08/06/2017 14:44

"SABAH Graduate" ceremony was held at Heydar Aliyev Center on June 4. Participants in the event included Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, members of parliament, state officials, representatives of private organizations, rectors of higher education institutions, education experts, teachers and students. The ceremony participants first viewed “I`m SABAH” exhibition. The event started with the playing of the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The participants then watched a promotional video on SABAH groups. First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva`s message to SABAH graduates was read out. In her message, Mehriban Aliyeva described SABAH project as one of the important initiatives implemented as part of “The State Strategy on the Development of Education in the Republic of Azerbaijan”, which was approved by the President in 2013. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva wished first SABAH graduates success. She said educated youth have an important role to play in ensuring Azerbaijan`s integration into the globalizing world. Mehriban Aliyeva also hailed SABAH volunteers` contribution to the organization of large-scale international events in the country. SABAH graduates – student at Baku State University Gunay Imanzade and student at Azerbaijan Technical University Shahin Khalilov – highlighted study process in SABAH groups. They said the opportunities created by SABAH and knowledge and experience they got under the project will play an exceptional role in their future career. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said it is symbolic that the first graduation ceremony of SABAH groups is held at the center named after national leader Heydar Aliyev. “Educated, skilled and well-prepared youth represent the future of our country. This is why an enriched and more exacting academic program has been introduced.” Mikayil Jabbarov said that taken under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the measures to develop education play an invaluable role in raising young people as educated, competitive and worthy citizens. The minister described the First Vice-President`s message as a sign of attention to education and youth. Mikayil Jabbarov highlighted the opportunities created by SABAH groups, saying the project aims to improve quality of education, build a new and different environment, and prepare specialists in accordance with requirements of the labour market. The minister congratulated SABAH graduates and wished them success. The ceremony ended with the playing of SABAH groups` anthem and the taking of a group photo. SABAH groups were established in 34 specializations in 7 state higher education institutions in 2014-2015 academic year. SABAH groups now enroll more than 2300 students in 46 specializations in 11 higher education institutions. A total of 722 SABAH students graduated in 2016-2017 academic year. SABAH Volunteer project aims to ensure effective extra-curricular activity of SABAH students. SABAH groups have a nearly 650-strong staff of teachers and professors, including selected university teachers, native speakers invited from Canada and the United Kingdom, and professionals employed by local and foreign companies in Azerbaijan.

06/06/2017 13:52

Azerbaijan-Romania Interuniversity Forum got underway at ADA University on May 24. A Romanian delegation led by the State Secretary at the National Education Ministry Mr. Gigel Paraschiv, including officials of the ministry, representatives of 10 higher education institutions joined the Forum. Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Firudin Gurbanov also participated in the Forum, which was attended by the representatives of 16 Azerbaijani higher education institutions. It is the first event of this scale that brings together Azerbaijani and Romanian higher education institutions.  Azerbaijani graduates of Romanian higher education institutions were also among the participants. After the opening ceremony, the Forum continued in panel discussions. The event featured the signing of several cooperation documents between higher education institutions. On the second day of the Forum, the representatives of the higher education institutions of Romania will have the opportunity to visit campuses of their counterpart local universities to get familiar with their infrastructure. The Forum also featured a meeting between the deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Firudin Gurbanov and the State Secretary at the National Education Ministry of Romania Mr. Gigel Paraschiv. They discussed prospects for cooperation, including dual programs between higher education institutions, and student and teacher exchange.

25/05/2017 12:18

  “School Management Program” training has been held at the Institute for the Professional Development of Education Workers. Initiated by the Institute of Education, the training was organized in partnership with UNICEF Azerbaijan. The training aimed to promote school principals` awareness of the advanced education system and effective school management. It was conducted by Jumaat Bin Masdawood, an educator at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. The training featured interactive sessions on a range of topics, including leadership, time management, and development of communication skills. The training involved 28 selected school principals. The National Institute of Education is Singapore’s national teacher education institute. It is an integral part of the country`s education service. The institute was ranked first by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2015.

15/05/2017 16:00

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has attended the opening of the newly renovated educational block of Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov and rector of the university, professor Farah Aliyeva informed Mehriban Aliyeva about the renovation work.  

05/05/2017 15:41

On May 4, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov received First Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt Mohamed Hossam al-Din al-Sayed al-Malehi, who is in Baku to attend the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. They discussed the current state of and prospects for developing relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt in the field of education, as well as the expansion of cooperation between universities of the two countries.

05/05/2017 14:32

A ceremony was held at Gulustan palace on May 3 to award the winners of “Best presentation” contest, which marked the 94th birthday anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Prior to the ceremony, senior education officials visited the Alley of Honors to pay tribute to national leader Heydar Aliyev and lay flowers at his grave. They also put flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Held among 9th-11th grade pupils of general education institutions, the contest was co-organized by the Ministry of Education, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, New Azerbaijan Party, Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, and Azerbaijan Education Workers Free Trade Unions Republican Committee. Participants in the event included state officials, members of parliament, heads of educational institutions, education experts, teachers and pupils. The ceremony started with the playing of the state anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In his remarks, Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said national leader Heydar Aliyev always paid great attention to the development of education and highly appreciated the role of education in society and individual development. The minister said national leader Heydar Aliyev`s ideas defined priorities of educational reforms in Azerbaijan, adding that “his recommendations lay at the heart of the basic program of the country`s education system”. Mikayil Jabbarov said that launched by the national leader, the important reforms have been successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev over the past 14 years. He said that these years have seen the country`s socio-economic progress and intellectual and spiritual development, and the establishment of an Azerbaijani model of development. “The education philosophy of national leader Heydar Aliyev is yielding fruits and lies at the heart of success at all levels of education.” The minister said that the reforms carried out in recent years aimed to train highly skilled young people with a new thinking and broad world view. “Our primary goal is to increase quality of education.” Mikayil Jabbarov stressed the importance of raising patriotic youth and instilling the sense of self-consciousness and national pride in pupils. Mikayil Jabbarov emphasized the role of the contest in encouraging young generation to study national leader Heydar Aliyev`s rich political legacy, life and activities. The minister congratulated the winners and wished them success in their studies. Deputy Prime Minister, deputy chair and executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov hailed the contest`s contribution to young people`s study of national leader Heydar Aliyev`s rich legacy and to the promotion of the ideology of Azerbaijanism among pupils. Chairman of Azerbaijan Education Workers Free Trade Unions Republican Committee Sattar Mehbalıyev and department head at the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Soltan Mammadov stressed the importance of the contest in terms of preserving and promoting the legacy of national leader Heydar Aliyev among the young generation. They congratulated the winners of the contest. The ceremony then featured performance of pupils of the Republican Arts Gymnasium. According to results of “Best presentation” contest, five entries received 1st degree certificates, nine entries received 2nd degree certificates, 15 entries received 3rd degree certificates and 23 entries received certificates of merit.  The winners also received valuable prizes.

04/05/2017 14:22

The Ministry of Education reported on its work in 2016 on May 1. Participants in the event included Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov, parliamentarians, representatives of state bodies and private organizations, rectors of higher education institutions, heads of non-governmental organizations and the intelligentsia. The event participants first watched a film, produced by Tahsil television, on projects implemented by the Ministry of Education in 2016. Director of the Department of Education Development Programs of the Ministry of Education Emin Amrullayev made a presentation on the development rate in education sector. Minister of Education Mikayil Jabbarov said the ministry`s reporting on its work has already become a tradition. He said such events play an important role in ensuring changes in education. The minister underlined the importance of studying public opinion, conducting discussions and building an atmosphere of public dialogue on the works done and future tasks in education sector. “Ensuring accountability and transparency in this process is the primary condition.” Mikayil Jabbarov said the reforms conducted by the Ministry of Education in recent years aim to ensure public satisfaction and accessibility of education and to strengthen public control mechanisms. He said measures are also underway to improve governance in education. The minister said it is important that graduates have necessary competence, and noted the necessity of building closer cooperation in personnel training and preparation of long-term assessments in order to increase the value of graduates in the labour market and boost economic competitiveness. Mikayil Jabbarov said recent diagnostic assessments and studies helped examine teachers` professional skills and better understand their needs. The minister also hailed the growing number of those who want to become a teacher and the fact that entrants who performed well at exams choose teaching as their profession. Members of parliament and education experts pointed out positive changes in education sector in recent years. They also noted the importance of the event in terms of increasing public awareness.

02/05/2017 17:39

Media representatives were given a tour of the newly-built modular schools in Ismayilli and Goychay districts on April 26. Media representatives first visited Yenikand village secondary school in Ismaiylli district. They were informed that the school has four classrooms, a teachers` room and a lavatory. The school has a total enrollment of nine pupils. Media representatives then viewed Hajaghabayli modular classrooms of Yeniarkh village secondary school in Goychay district.  The school has four classrooms, a teachers` room and a lavatory. It has an enrollment of 16 pupils, who are served by four teachers. Three modular schools have been built in Goychay, Ismayilli and Lankaran under a pilot project implemented in accordance with President Ilham Aliyev`s instructions to replace unsafe school buildings with modular schools in 2017-2018, which the head of state gave at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss results of the country`s socio-economic development in the first three quarters of 2016. It is planned that 232 modular schools will be built in 2017-2018. Hundred such schools will be built this year. Twenty-three modular schools are now being built in 17 districts, and the construction of 19 more schools will begin until the end of May. The advantages of modular schools include low-cost building work, quick construction and portability of module sections, and the opportunity to adjust the number of classrooms to the number of pupils. Modular schools will also be built during major repairs of old school buildings in order to ensure uninterrupted study process.  

28/04/2017 13:02