Participants of the meeting heard the annual report of PTA and exchanged views on works implemented in the relevant field. Education Minister Misir Mardanov talked about the activity of PTA and works implemented by the Association regarding the development of parent-school relationships. He highly praised the events organized by the PTA, which plays an important role in creating effective communication environment between parents and teachers. According to him, important duties, such as building a civil society, improve the quality of education, raise the prestige of schools and the teaching profession laid upon Parent Teacher Associations. Executive director of Azerbaijan National Parent Teacher Association Tarana Sharifova thanked the Minister for the meeting and provided support. Noting the number of PTA members has increased over recent years T. Sharifova talked about realized projects and organized activities. Furthermore, she underlined the importance of developing mechanisms to improve PTA’s activity and spoke about measures taken in this direction at schools. She also talked about problems and difficulties facing by the PTA, and put forward her ideas on what is needed to be done. The meeting was attended by members of Azerbaijan National Parent Teacher Association, including director of school no. 46 of Baku Sevinj Budagova, director of educational complex 132-134 Sara Khanlarova, director of XXI century International Education and Innovation Centre Vafa Mammadova, heads of departments of the Ministry Farzali Gadirov, Aydin Ahmadov, Shahrza Aliyev, and etc. Speaking at the meeting they put forward proposals regarding the establishment of effective relationships between teachers and parents, raising the prestige of schools and the teaching profession. Moreover, they talked about the appropriateness of creating a newspaper of the Association, strengthening of cooperation between parents, teachers and schools, etc. Moreover, there were underlined the importance of effective organization of PTA’s activity and determination of steps that should be taken in this direction. Education Minister Misir Mardanov highly praised the expansion of Association activity, and underlined the need to strengthen the promotion of done works. At the end of his speech the Minister gave his relevant recommendations and underlined the needed support will be provided to the works implemented by the Association. 

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Speaking at the opening of the event, Education Minister Misir Mardanov congratulated the attendees on 31 December - World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year, and wished them every success for the future. The Minister talked about the care and attention provided by the national leader Heydar Aliyev for the development of sport stressing this tradition has successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. Noting the importance of decision made by General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee to hold the first 2015 European Olympic Games in Azerbaijan, the Minister connected that important event with a success achieved by the country in all areas, including in the sport field.  Noting the year 2012 will be remembered for many achievements of Azeri athletes, including success gained at XXX Summer Olympic Games, the Minister talked about the action plan approved by the Ministry of Education according to the relevant Order of the President on claiming 2012 - the Year of Sport. According to the Minister the competition was conducted in accordance with the action plan and relevant order of the Ministry. He added the goal of the competition was to evaluate the activity of coaches working at children-youth sport and chess schools, as well as identify and encourage talented athletes. According to the Minister about 39 championships, zonal and qualifying competitions were held among sport and chess schools during the 2012. Moreover 70 trainings were organized in order to prepare for 11 republican tournaments, as well as international and national competitions. In 2012, pupils of these schools have won 557 medals, including 219 gold, 172 silver and 166 bronze medals in competitions held in the country and a total of 97 medals, including 55 gold, 17 silver and 25 bronze medals in the World and European champianships and tournaments.   The Minister also gave information on works done within the State Program approved by the orders of the President to train 2108 high-level athletes, develop chess and football, and steps taking to organize chess teaching at schools. At the end, he congratulated the winners and wished them every success. Next, the name of winners of Republican competition among sport and chess schools, coaches and athletes organized in 12 nominations were announced and they were awarded diplomas and presents of the Ministry. The event was attended by vice-president of National Olympic Committee Chingiz Huseynzade, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Ismayil Ismayilov, MP Adil Aliyev and vice-president of Azerbaijan Chess Federation Faig Hasanov. In their speech, they talked about the care and attention paid by the President for the development of sport stressing achievements gained in this field over the past years, and congratulated the winners.

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Speaking at the opening of the meeting Education Minister Misir Mardanov congratulated the attendees on 31 December - World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year. The Minister talked about curriculum training courses that have been provided for teachers since 2008 stressing about 73 000 teachers have attended the relevant courses over the last 5 years and mastered the necessary skills and abilities. According to him, the relevant training courses for teachers of 7-11 grades will be conducted as well.   Education Minister also announced the beginning of training courses entitled “General Education curriculum reform and its management” for 4000 heads of education establishments to organize the effective use of new curriculum and successful implementation of curriculum reform. According to him, the training courses are held by Center for Training and Development Ltd and Madad Azerbaijan Ltd that have won the tender held within the Second Education Sector Development Project. Noting the importance of taking a serious approach to this work, the Minister underlined the results of monitoring of training courses held by Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ministry and Azerbaijan National Parent Teacher Association will be discussed after the completion of courses. According to the Minister, the training courses have received a positive assessment but there were revealed some problems which should be solved. He listed some of them and noted that the problems should be solved by the organizations that conducted training courses. The meeting was attended by director of school no. 67 of Baku Irada Bayramova, director of “Zangi” lyceum Bayram Heydarov, director of school no. 212 Gurban Hasanov, director of school no. 167 Vagif Guliyev, director of school no. 7 Gulnaz Mehdiyeva, representative of Madad Azerbaijan Ltd Bahruz Mehdiyev, representative of Curriculum Centre Konul Mahmudova, director of lyceum named after academician Zarifa Aliyeva Mahabbat Valiyeva, director of school no. 6 Gulshan Orujova, executive director of Azerbaijan National Parent Teacher Association Tarana Sharifova, Unit director of Baku city Education Department Bahman Nabiyev, head of Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ministry Tarana Hajiyeva, program director of Centre for Modern Education and Training Assistance Elmina Kazımzade, director of Baku European Lyceum Zulfiyya Veysova and others. In their speech, they have shared their views on the training courses and put forward some suggestions to find a solution to the relevant problems.

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The meeting was attended by officials of the Ministry, heads of relevant structural units, directors of schools, textbook authors, and etc.  Education Minister Misir Mardanov welcomed the attendees and noted that the meeting is devoted to the topical issue. According to him, an issue related to the intra-school assessment was discussed broadly at events held at the Ministry over the past periods.  Next, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Department Tarana Hajiyeva gave a presentation. According to her, as a result of meeting on “Intra-school assessment: problems, prospects”, which was held on 12 October 2012, the working group has developed “Instructions for conducting assessment at general education schools.” She talked about general provisions of the instructions noting the intra-school assessment includes diagnostic, formative and summative assessments.  She talked about the role of formative assessment in the new content of the education, pointed out skills and rules that should have been guided by teachers implementing the relevant assessment. T. Hajiyeva also touched on problems relating to formative assessment and steps that should be taken to solve them.      The discussions were continued after the presentation. Director of Curriculum Centre of Institute for Educational Problems Anvar Abbasov, textbook author Nayma Qahramanova, director of Baku European Lyceum Zulfiyya Veysova, heads of Ministry departments Aydin Ahmadov and Farzali Gadirov, chair of Council for Textbook Assessment Elmina Kazımzade, and national assessment consultant Nazakat Mehdiyeva voiced their questions, opinions and suggestions regarding the presentation.

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It was decidedto hold an annual contest among the heads and teachers of general education establishments subordinated to the Ministry of Education. The contest will be held in two levels. Works submitted to the contest will be assessed based on the relevant criterion and winners will be awarded. More information about the contest will be available on the website: www.musabiqe.edu.az.

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Speaking at the opening of the meeting Education Minister Misir Mardanov talked about Development Concept “Azerbaijan 2020: a glance at the future” signed by President Ilham Aliyev noting the concept will provide the development of all areas, including the education field. He underlined the importance of educational researches on different topics conducted by the Institute for Educational Problems. The Minister also stressed the importance of evaluating results of implemented works and reforms, as well as precise determination of process for implementation of innovations in the education field.  Director of Institute for Educational Problems Abdulla Mehrabov gave information on the research topics implemented based on orders of the Ministry in 2012 stressing they are mainly conducting applied researches. According to him, recommendations from the relevant departments of the Ministry and international education consultants of the World Bank were taken into account in the selection of topics. The researches were mainly conducted in the fields, such as the use of subject curriculum in primary schools, organization of works for preparation of 5-year olds for school, problems with the admission of 5-year olds to schools through the contest, assessment of students knowledge in general education (leaving exams, entrance exams to the higher and secondary special education institutions, national assessment, TIMSS and PIRLS international assessment), etc. A. Mehrabov also talked about problems regarding analysis and assessment of events held within the State Program for the development of creative potential of children (youth) with special talent (2006-2010), development and use of curriculums for vocational education field, and etc.   Next, director of Curriculum Centre of Institute for Educational Problems Anvar Abbasov and head of Department for Content and Methods Assessment Elkhan Baylarov gave information on some research topics and talked about achieved results.   Education Minister Misir Mardanov put forward his ideas for the selection of research topics and expressed his belief that use of other financial resources to do detailed researches will give a positive result. He underlined the importance of scientific seminars jointly held by the Ministry of Education and Institute for Educational Problems, and discussion achieved results.

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The meeting was devoted to the accreditation results of Jalilabad Vocational Lyceum, Baku Vocational Lyceum no. 2, Goychay Vocational Lyceum and Neftchala Vocational School. Speaking at the opening of the meeting Education Minister Misir Mardanov underlined the importance of accreditation of educational institutions, as well as steps taken in these directions to improve the quality of education. Chair of Accreditation Commission on Jalilabad Vocational Lyceum Vidadi Guliyev gave information on the results of accreditation. He shared his views regarding the activity of the school and talked about the training of personnel in the relevant specialties, number of students, issue regarding provision of graduates with job opportunities, and etc. Chair of Accreditation Commission on Baku Vocational Lyceum no. 2 Vidadi Guliyev gave detailed information on the results of accreditation. He talked about the activity of the lyceum, quality personnel training, teaching staff, material and technical base of the school, etc. Chair of Accreditation Commission on Goychay Vocational Lyceum Movlud Hajiyev in his presentation talked about the activity of the Lyceum, the training level of students, and its logistic provision. According to him, the content of the curriculum of specialties submitted for accreditation meets the requirements of relevant normative documents and State Education Standards. Chair of Accreditation Commission on Neftchala Vocational School, head of Accreditation Department of the Ministry of Education Habib Zarbaliyev spoke about the current situation regarding specialties submitted for accreditation, provision of graduates with job opportunities, etc. He gave detailed information on material and technical base of the school, the content of education, teaching staff, and also voiced recommendations offered by the Commission. Next, questions taken from the attendees were answered, and made some suggestions and recommendations. Education Minister shared his views regarding the accreditation of vocational education establishments and gave his recommendations. At the end, the activity of Jalilabad Vocational Lyceum, Baku Vocational Lyceum no. 2, Goychay Vocational Lyceum and Neftchala Vocational School was assessed as satisfactory, and made a decision on the accreditation of their relevant specialties. 

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The goal of the contest is to form ICT-based individual education. It was decided to hold an annual contest among the heads and teachers of general education establishments subordinated to the Ministry of Education. The contest will be held in two levels. Works submitted to the contest will be assessed based on the relevant criterion and winners will be awarded. More detailed information about the contest is available on the website: www.musabiqe.edu.az. Those wishing to participate in the contest should submit their projects until 8 February. Each pupil from one class of teachers, who will win the contest, will receive a netbook.

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The meeting was devoted to the accreditation results of School no.164 of Baku, School-lyceum no.2 of Guba, School-lyceum no.4 of Lankaran and School-lyceum no.6 of Lankaran. Speaking at the opening of the meeting Education Minister Misir Mardanov stressed that the accreditation of secondary schools is held for the first time. According to him, measures taken in this direction are very important in terms of improving education quality. Chair of Accreditation Commission on School no.164 of Baku Bahram Shiriyev gave information about the results of accreditation held at school. He talked about the school activity, organization of teaching process, its teaching staff and students, admission of graduates to universities, and etc. Chair of Accreditation Commission on school-lyceum no.2 of Guba Nizami Azizov talked about the activity of lyceum, teaching staff, its material and technical base highlighting the compliance of school’s activity with its status. Chair of Accreditation Commission on school-lyceum no.4 of Lankaran Gurban Hasanov gave information about the activity of the school, students knowledge level, material and technical supply of the school and results of accreditation. Chair of Accreditation Commission on school-lyceum no.6 of Lankaran Nizami Novruzov talked about the organization of teaching process, material-technical base of the school, the content of education, university admission figures for students and voiced recommendations offered by the Commission. Next, questions taken from the meeting attendees were answered, and made some suggestions and recommendations. Education Minister shared his views regarding the accreditation of secondary schools and gave his recommendations. At the end, the activity of school no.164 of Baku, school-lyceum no.4 of Lankaran and school-lyceum no.6 of Lankaran was assessed as “good”, the activity of school-lyceum no.2 of Guba “satisfactory” and made a decision on their accreditation. 

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Director of United Aid for Azerbaijan (UAFA) organization Gwendolyn Burchell gave information on the teaching of occupational therapy and underlined the importance of measures taken in this direction in Azerbaijan. Noting occupational therapy professionals were trained in Azerbaijan as a result of done works, the guest also talked about future plans. Manager of UAFA Nurana Abdullayeva gave a presentation entitled “Occupational therapy is a bridge between rehabilitation and real life.” Noting occupational therapy aimed at improving the social life chances of children (and adults) in need of special care, N. Abdullayeva underlined the need of attaching great importance to the training of high qualified professionals for this field. She gave detailed information about the activity of UAFA in Azerbaijan and answered to the questions taken from attendees.   Education Minister Misir Mardanov spoke about the experience of development of disabled children living in boarding schools and orphanages. Noting the importance of works implemented within the execution of ‘State Program for the placement of children living in state-owned child institutions in families (deinstitutionalization) and alternative care in the Republic of Azerbaijan (2006-2015)’, and inclusive education project, the Minister stressed that any necessary support will be provided to the activity of the UAFA and the cooperation will further deepen.  The meeting was also attended by Department heads of the Ministry Aydin Ahmadov, Ilham Mustafayev and Farzali Gadirov, Head of Deinstitutionalization and Children Protection Department Malahat Hajiyeva, UAFA representative Ulviyya Mirzayeva, Director of Baku European Lyceum Zulfiyya Veysova, Department Head of Baku State University Rena Ibrahimbeyova, Manager of “Centre for Rehabilitation and Development” under Republican Special Boarding School no. 4 and others, The guests also shared their views regarding the teaching of occupational therapy in Azerbaijan, and voiced their opinions on the issue. Education Minister Misir Mardanov underlined the need to establish the relevant working group and develop the action plan in order to provide the teaching of occupational therapy. The Minister shared his opinions regarding the measures taken to train specialists in this field and expressed his belief that the partnership with the UAFA will be effective.

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