The 21st century is characterized with rush socio-economic changes, which are inconsiderably linked with the achievements in the sphere of science and technologies. In the modern world the scientific knowledge, including the public and humanitarian sciences and their efficient application are the important instruments for the utilization of the human potential, social harmonization and socio-economic development, as well as increase of win-win capability and improvement of living conditions. Thus, survival of Azerbaijani economy is possible only on the base of comprehensive education potential, on the base of a strategy directed at civilization of education society, i.e. educed Azerbaijan.
The measures taken for development and use of the scientific and technical potential is first of all realized under the Law on Education, which is to be adopted in the autumn session of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani parliament]. The adoption of the law on Education will bring light to problems which evolve in this sphere. Problems exist in the sphere of education in Azerbaijan, while one cannot deny the positive development in this field.
At present 15 state programs on different priority directions of education is implemented in Azerbaijan. The State Program on upgrade of pre-school education, calculated for 2006-2010 is among them. Under the program there was designed a pilot program with the Asian Development Bank. In connection with the insufficiency in teachers staff in some regions of the country the Ministry set up the State Program on provision with teachers in 2006-2009 the Ministry also carries out a State Program on education of children in need of special care, State Program on construction of new schools, Program on development of new text-books, State program on computerization of schools, while the implementation of a pilot project on Development of educations sector in 2003-2007 is underway under a credit agreement with the World Bank.
The correlation of pupils and teachers in Azerbaijan is almost close to international standards and comprise 10/1, the Education Ministry said. Thus, in the United States the similar statistics is 17/1, in Russia - 10/1, in Turkey 24/1, in Georgia 11/1, in Japan 16/1, in Norway 8/1, in the UK 16/1. At present 1,600 children and adults study at schools of Azerbaijan and 17,400 teachers are involved their study and training.
Special importance is attached in Azerbaijan to the education and training of teachers, continuous education and training of teachers. The Education Ministry designed a national concept and strategy. The draft document was designed by experts of the Ministry and on the base of international experience. It included strategic directions and ways for resolution of problems existing in this field. the draft concept also envisages monitoring of training of personnel, a tendency of international development of continuous pedagogical education.
The Cabinet of Ministers has defined some privileges for young teachers who received an appointment for rural areas. In the next school year the salaries of pedagogues working in rural schools will be increased approximately to 180 AZN.
Moreover, young specialists will be provided with necessary facilities and text-books. необС...одимым оборудованием Рё учебниками. Moreover, these teachers will receive a doubled wage at arrival in the place of appointment. The teachers working in 20km of the district center will be provided with plots for construction of private house. They will also receive compensation for payment of communal expenses.
Even last year the Education Ministry appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers with request to ensure provision of the schools in the region, in particular in the mountains and remote areas, with teachers. 941 young specialists went to regions. The encouraging factor was that UN under the project pays $100 in addition to wages of teachers of Azerbaijani and history who decided in 8 southern and northern regions of Azerbaijan, including Gakh, Zakatala and Balakan
The work is carried out not only for the improvement of intellectual level of the population, but also the expansion of construction of schools in Azerbaijan. By the end of the year the construction of 230 schools and additional buildings for 91,572 pupils will start by the end of the year on the base of state programs in the sphere of schools construction, projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Saudi Fund For Development, of which 167 new schools and additional buildings for 44,438 children have been already commissioned.
In difference to previous years in 2006 the Education Ministry also carries out renovation in some schools. In accordance with the plan, 46 schools, including 2 kindergartens have been repaired in 32 regions of the country. The Heydar Aliyev Foundations program on construction and renovation of schools this year includes the construction of new buildings for secondary schools in emergency condition, constriction of additional buildings, capital refurbishment of some schools. Moreover, under the program additional buildings will be built for 12 schools , while another 12 schools will be renovated in Absheron peninsula, Binagadi, Sabunchu, Azizbayov, Surakhani and Garadagh districts of Baku.
Funded by the World Bank (WB) a program in the sphere of education is allocated for 2003-2013. The program is a continuation of the WB project in Reforms in education and will be implemented by stages. The budget of the program is $70m (the share of the Azerbaijani government is 20%), which will be approved by installments. $16.6m will be approved for the first 4-year stage. The program envisages improvement of the quality of secondary and general education, development curriculums for 1-11 grades.
Education of youth abroad is very encouraged in Azerbaijan. For instance, in this education year 12 BS holders of Azerbaijani universities entered the universities of Turkey for MS. Through very hard rivalry, 41 Azerbaijanis entered the universities of Russia. 9 Azerbaijani applicants entered the prestigious universities of Russia, while 3 became students of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The rest entered the Moscow-based technical and humanitarian universities, as well as different universities located in Russia to receive different grades.