Azerbaijan, Lankaran / Тrend corr P. Aliyeva / Some 30,000 vacancies at Azerbaijani Universities will be allocated to students in 2007, Azerbaijani Education Minister, Misir Mardanov, reported during a consultation in Lankaran on 30 May. He noted that approximately 120,000 students will leave secondary schools this year.
Mardanov voiced his concern about the fact that the number of graduates from schools and children beginning studying in schools decreases every year. He added that final examinations based on a centralized test order would be organized in schools beginning from the next year.
Speaking on the shortage of instructors in far settlements, Mardanov voiced his concern about an increase in the number of instructors in the central cities of regions, where the average is ten students per instructor. According to the Minister, the situation causes a decrease in instructors' salaries; therefore, necessary measures will be taken. The Minister also indicated the low level of education in trade schools and stressed that a development program in response to this problem will soon be approved.
Lankaran region with the population of 201,500 people (51.2% of women, 48.8% men) is located 286 km south of Baku.