Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.14. / Trend J. Babayeva /
The number of pupils in the Azerbaijani schools in Georgia reduced markedly.
The number of the pupils has decreased dramatically compared to the previous years. Young families, who are leaving for Azerbaijan to work, send their children to schools in Baku. If earlier there were 20-22 pupils in the class, currently the figure is 10-12," Head of the Georgian Azerbaijanis' movement "Gayrat", Alibaba Asgarov, told Trend on Sept.14 over the telephone.
There was not made even the most minor repairs at the Azerbaijani schools. Georgia had 168 Azerbaijani schools, now this figure is 120. It is hard to name some of them school, Asgarov added.
According to Asgarov, Georgia has not completed the issue of textbooks. "Some 75 percent of textbooks are expected to be printed in Georgia. However, it appears that the country is not ready for that. In this connection, we appealed to the Education Ministry, the relevant authorities and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia, and it was decided that Azerbaijan will provide the Azerbaijani schools with textbooks once again, "the head of the movement added.
According to Asgarov, no one is against the Azerbaijani children's education at Georgian schools. "But the level of the education system is low even at the Georgian school." The education problem is the most global in Georgia, "Alasgarov said.
Head of the "Gayrat" movement said that about 12 directors are Georgians in 120 Azerbaijani schools. "There is no a Georgian in the in the villages where these schools are located. Recently, representatives of the movement held a meeting with the governor of the Kvemo-Kartli. The participants unanimously agreed on that the appointment of the Georgians directors to the Azerbaijani schools promotes neither the state language, nor the quality of education. The governor supported us and we were promised that soon the Azerbaijanis will remove the Georgian Directors, but still the problem remains unsolved," Asgarov said.
Asgerov also expressed concern about the contingent of teachers at the Azerbaijani schools. "Some 67 percent of the teachers are retirees. There is a great need for young professionals. Otherwise, we will face a more serious problem in the future," Asgarov said.
According to the unofficial data, approximately 500,000 Azerbaijanis leave in Georgia, mostly in Kvemo-Kartli (Borchali).
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