Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / Public organizations of Azerbaijanis residing in Georgia intend to apply to the Parliament of this country, Alibala Askerov, the chairman of national movement "Geyrat", informed Trend last weekend.
The appeal will propose that Azerbaijani schools in Georgia not be closed down. Around 500,000 Azerbaijanis reside in the region of Borchali in Georgia.
Azerbaijanis are native residents of the capital and 13 regions of Georgia. A total of 164 Azerbaijani schools operate in Georgia.
The closing of Azerbaijani schools in Georgia first surfaced in 2004. Soon legislative bodies of Georgia will adopt a new law on education. The document will state that education in schools must only be in the Georgian language. The adoption of this law may be grounds for closing down Azerbaijani schools.
Nazim Ibrahimov, the chairman of the State Committee on work with Azerbaijanis residing abroad, came up with this initiative. He considers it expedient to educate in the Georgian language.
Askerov said that the statement by Ibrahimov caused concern and protest from Azerbaijani residents of Georgia . If Azerbaijanis receive their education in the Georgian language only, they will only preserve their oral language skills.
"We propose to preserve Azerbaijani schools and simultaneously develop a state program for the correct teaching of the Georgian language".
Furthermore, a Georgian education can be offered in Azerbaijani schools to allow the interested persons to study there. Thus, Azerbaijanis can choose in which language to receive their education,"- he said.
An appeal will be submitted to the Georgian Parliament shortly.
.