The meeting was opened by Education Minister and Chair of Organizing Committee for the “Best secondary school” and “Best Teacher” competitions Misir Mardanov. In his speech, the Minister noted the successful conduction of competitions over the last 5 years. He expressed his gratitude to all members of the Committee for the objective and transparent selection of competitors. Mr. Mardanov gave information on the levels of competitions held according to the Order of President Ilham Aliyev “On establishing the best secondary school and the best teacher awards” of 4 September 2007. Noting the winners were determined according to the total number of points gained by them, he underlined the importance of the competitions in terms of their contribution to the development of education. Talking about the results for “Best secondary school” competition, the Minister marked 151 schools representing different districts of the country applied to take part in the competition. He noted that, this year, as in previous years, a majority of schools participating in the competitions were from Baku. The minister added that 111 out of 151 schools were passed to the second level of the competition. He underlined 47 schools (3 schools from Nakhchivan AR) have won the Best Secondary School competition and listed the top 10 schools. He also expressed his regret over schools of Mingachevir, Naftalan, Lankaran, Agdam, Balaken, Gobustan, Gubadli, Dashkesen, Zangilan, Yardimli, Kalbajar, Goranboy, Lachin, Lerik, Tartar, Saatli, Khojali, Khojavend and Shusha districts that did not take part in the competition.   Next Misir Mardanov gave information on the “Best Teacher’ competition noting 464 teachers submitted a document to the competition. According to the results of assessment, 231 competitors, who have gained more points, were eligible to participate in the next level. The Minister also named the participants on the subjects. He noted that the final score of teachers were revealed based on the total number of points of three levels and 95 teachers (5 teachers from Nakhchivan), who have shown good results, became competition winners. At the end, the winners of competitions were awarded and school directors and teachers were presented certificates.

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The meeting was opened by Education Minister Misir Mardanov. In his speech, he said that the meeting is devoted to the accreditation results of Absheron-Jeyranbatan Vocational Lyceum, Baku Vocational Lyceum no.15, Baku Vocational School no. 1 and Yevlakh Vocational School.   Chair of Accreditation Committee for Absheron-Jeyranbatan Vocational School Shahrza Agayev gave information on the results of accreditation held at school and shared his views on general activity of lyceum. He talked about issues such as personnel training held in relevant specialties, students, work provision for graduates, results of survey conducted during the accreditation process, etc. Next, chair of Accreditation Committee for Baku Vocational Lyceum no.15 Shahin Baylarov gave information on the school. He talked about activity, the quality of specialist training, teaching staff, material and technical base of the school and noted the compliance of school activity with its status.  Chair of Accreditation Committee for Baku Vocational School no.1 Tarmina Yusufova talked about activity of lyceum, its material-technical base, usage conditions of latest technologies in the teaching process, and overall results of accreditation. Gahraman Hajiyev, chair of Accreditation Committee for Yevlakh Vocational School talked about the current situation regarding accredited specialties, work provision for graduates of lyceum over the last 5 years, etc.   Next there were given answers to questions of meeting attendees regarding the results of accreditation held at above listed educational institutions, and voiced some suggestions.. Education Minister Misir Mardanov shared his views on the results of accreditation and gave his recommendations. At the meeting, the activity of Absheron-Jeyranbatan Vocational Lyceum, Baku Vocational Lyceum no.15, Baku Vocational School no. 1 and Yevlakh Vocational School was assessed as satisfactory, and there were made a decision on the accreditation of their relevant specialties.

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The meeting was attended by officials of Azerbaijan Education Ministry, Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research, and representatives of education institutions from both countries. Education Minister Misir Mardanov welcomed the meeting attendees and talked about the importance of conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. Noting such meetings have a positive impact to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and expansion of educational links the Minister gave detailed information about the development path of Azerbaijan, problems faced by the country and its education system. Mr. Mardanov spoke about ongoing reforms to improve the education system, and successes achieved in different levels of education. According to him, Azerbaijan is interested in expanding relations with Italy in the education field. The Minister added that 24 universities of Italy were included to the list of higher education institutions within the State Program for study of Azeri youth abroad for the years 2007-2015, approved by the order 2090 of the President of Azerbaijan of 16 April. Moreover, according to him,.2 students have already graduated from universities of Italy and 4 students are currently studying for a Masters degree.   Next, the sides exchanged views on issues of common interest and discussed the prospects for bilateral relations. Representative of the Ministry of Education, University and Research of Italy Ezio Sina, professor of Sapienza University Angelo Filippini, Deputy Secretary General of Centre for Italian Language and Culture “Dante Alighieri” Raffaella Fiorani, head of International Relations Department of the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan Tamilla Aliyeva and others noted the existence of prospects for strengthening bilateral relations in the education field between the two countries and the need to increase relevant efforts in this direction.

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The project is supported by Youth Foundation of the Ministry for Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan and conducted by the Public Association for Support to Modern Education “Educated Society.” The goal of the project is to provide graduates of vocational education institutions with job opportunities. Some steps were taken within the project to provide 100 graduates selected from 5 vocational institutions of Baku, Ganja, Ismayilli and Gakh with jobs, legal assistance, and establish a bond between them and businessmen. It should be noted that, it is planning to provide training courses on different subjects for future graduates of vocational institutions by the end of current year. Moreover, it is planning to organize meetings for trained graduates with business, public, private and international organizations, as well as NGO’s.   The relevant training courses are currently held at vocational lyceums No. 12 and 13 of Baku. Moreover, it is planning to organize training courses at Ganja Vocational Lyceum, Ismayilli Vocational Education Centre and Gakh Vocational Lyceum. It should be noted that the end date of the project is January 2013.

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Education Minister Misir Mardanov expressed his pleasure at welcoming the guest at the Ministry. He talked about relationship development between the two countries in recent years, and underlined importance of bilateral relations in the education field. Noting one of the universities of Hungary was included to the relevant list of universities within the State Program for the study of Azeri students abroad for the years 2007-2015, the Minister talked about the study of Azeri students in Hungary. Stressing more universities of Hungary could be added to the relevant list of the State Program, the Minister underlined more works should be done in this direction. Moreover, the Minister expressed his belief that the current level of relationship between Azerbaijan and Hungary will create favorable conditions for effective cooperation between the two countries in the education field. According to him, relations between educational institutions and student exchange between the two countries will make a special contribution to the development of cooperation as well. Jolt Chutora thanked Minister Mardanov for the warm welcome and said that his country is well aware of Azerbaijan and there is friendly attitude towards Azeri people. According to the Ambassador, his country is seriously interested in increasing the number of Azeri students studying at universities of Hungary and in expanding ties in the education field. Noting there is great potential to increase the student exchange between the two countries, the guest added that the programs at universities of Hungary are being taught in English and Russian languages. Next, the sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest and expressed confidence that cooperation in the education field will contribute to the development of high-level relationship between the two countries.

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Education Minister Misir Mardanov expressed his pleasure at seeing the guest at the Ministry and wished him every success in his new position. Noting the development of friendship and fraternity relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Minister underlined the existence of potential for strengthen ties in the education field between the two countries. The Minister highly praised the activity of Turkish lyceums and Qafqaz University operating in the country and highlighted the need for more rational organization of existing cooperation in the education field. According to him, experts from both countries should hold discussions in this regard. Mr. Mardanov stressed that the expansion of educational ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey serves to the national interests of both countries. Noting Azerbaijan attaches special importance to the study of Azeri youth abroad, the Minister stressed the importance of expanding ties with prestigious universities of Turkey. According to him, Azerbaijan is interested in sending its students to foreign countries to study specialties that have a demand in the country. Next, the Minister underlined benefits of collaborative research for the development of friendship and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Ismail Alper Coskun thanked the Minister for the warm welcome and expressed his satisfaction with working at Azerbaijan. He talked about Turkish-Azeri relations, the development of cooperation in the education field and student exchange programs implemented between the two countries. The Ambassador also shared his thoughts on the activities of Turkish education institutions operating in Azerbaijan. He expressed his confidence that the meeting will contribute to the expansion of cooperation and underlined he would make every effort to improve educational ties between the two countries. At the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on the other issues of common interest, and put forward relevant suggestions regarding the expansion of cooperation in the education field.

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Education Minister warmly welcomed the guest and talked about steps to improve bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and France. Noting a special role of President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva in expanding relations between the two countries, the Minister underlined her contributions to the development of cultural ties between Azerbaijan and France. The Minister highlighted the importance of expanding the bilateral relations in all stages of education, not just between universities. He also touched upon the works done within the agreement signed with KNOUS organization of France and existing problems.   Mr. Mardanov expressed his readiness to support the cooperation in the education field, and teaching French at Azeri schools. Ambassador Pascal Monye thanked the Minister for the warm welcome. He put forward some suggestions to develop educational ties between the two countries and talked about works done by the Embassy in the relevant field. He suggested establishing a working group and developing 3-year program. Noting the existence of high potential to develop the cooperation, the Ambassador talked about seminars held for French language teachers within the French Village Project. The Minister expressed his confidence that the meeting will contribute to the development of educational ties of the two countries, and agreed with the views of Ambassador regarding the establishment of working group. According to him, staff of relevant structures should be presented in the working group.  At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the expansion of fruitful cooperation in the education field and other issues of common interest.

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Education Minister warmly welcomed the Ambassador at the Ministry. He talked about the relationship between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands and promising areas for development of educational ties. According to him, the relations between the two countries in the education field are improving within the State Program on study of Azeri youth abroad for the years 2007/2015. Noting 14 prestigious universities of the Netherlands were included in the relevant list of State Program, the Minister underlined that a total of 53 Azeri students were sent to universities of the Netherlands, 27 of whom graduated from universities and 26 students are currently continuing their study. Education Minister also talked about cooperation between the Maastricht School of Management and the Ministry of Education. He drew attention to steps taken within the cooperation with universities of the Netherlands in recent years, and underlined the increase in the number of Azeri students studying at universities of this country in law, economics and philosophy specialties. Mr. Mardanov stressed the importance of increasing attention to research areas to expand cooperation in the education field between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands, as well as establishing relationship in the vocational education field. The Ambassador thanked Minister Mardanov for the warm welcome and noted his country attaches a great importance to education field within its relations with Azerbaijan. He underlined the existence of relations between universities of the two countries within international programs and possibility of establishing cooperation between universities in the scientific – research areas. The Ambassador touched on issues, such as increasing the number of Azeri students studying at the Netherlands within the State Program for study of Azeri youth abroad for the years 2007/2015 and attracting students from the Netherlands to Azeri universities. The guest expressed his confidence in expanding cooperation in all areas of education. At the meeting, the sides have also exchanged views on promising areas for development of educational ties between the two countries.

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A total of 857 calls were received by phone, 117 - by e-mail. Majority of them were queries regarding the organization of education process at general, initial vocational, secondary special and higher education establishments, student knowledge assessment, determination of fee-paying educational services, admission to educational institutions, and etc. Other enquiries were about workload standards for teachers, rules for payment of tuition fees of students studying abroad within the State Program on study abroad, private universities, and etc. Some calls were about problems in general education, initial vocational, secondary special and higher education establishments. Of the 73 calls were analyzed and appropriate measures were taken to address them. The Service received 66 queries regarding shortcomings in the activity of schools, including 29 from schools of Baku, 4 from other cities (2 from Sumgayit and 1 from Ganja and Shirvan), 3 - Absheron, Goranboy, Agdam and Jalilabad districts, 2 from Sabirabad, Shamkir, Lankaran, Sheki, Gabala and Khachmaz districts, and 1 from Hajigabul, Saatli, Neftchala, Kurdamir, Goygol, Shamakhi, Gazakh, Agsu and Yevlakh districts. The appropriate administrative measures were taken against heads of educational institutions, where were revealed shortcomings. The management of the school No. 274 of Garadagh district of Baku has received a final warning. The director of Garaguney village school No.1 of Sabirabad district Ramiz Hasanov was dismissed for the management shortcomings. Other 7 queries were regarding the delay in stipend payment and issuing diploma for students of higher, secondary special and initial vocational education institutions, transfer of tuition fees of students studying at public and private universities, problems concerning scholarships for students studying abroad, etc. All calls were directed to the structural units and raised problems were solved in a timely manner.

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It is planning to provide training courses for teachers, who have not attended training courses before and going to teach pupils of grades 5 and 6 in the 2013/2014 academic year.  The new subject curriculums for grades 5 – 9 of general secondary and 10-11 of upper secondary education levels was prepared and approved. Moreover, the new subject curriculums is already being successfully introduced at grades 1-5. It should be noted that the goal of training courses, which will be provided based on the new model for professional development within the Second Education Sector Development Project, is to increase theoretical and practical knowledge of teachers across the new subject curriculums. Training courses will start in June 2013.

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