Last week the Azerbaijan parliament passed a bill of improvement with the education system of the country. The bill was initially passed in December of 2008 but was considered for slight changes before it is finally passed into law.
The particular aspect of the new bill that was considered for improvement was on establishment of educational institutions especially by foreigners. Foreigners and foreign entities are allowed begin schools, colleges and institutes, but licenses are granted for only 3 year period upon which the beneficiaries of license must re-apply. The foreigner or foreign entities must have a legal domestic agency that has to jointly coordinate the entire process of applying. Furthermore, upon the grant of license to operate, staff of the institute must comprise at least 85% of locals.
Another aspect in the improved bill is geared towards the moderation of private institutes. Whereas state run institutes operate with no duration in focus, institutes created by private citizens are granted license for duration of 5 years. Upon its license expiration, these private institutes are to re-apply for license.
Other aspects of the education law remains, for instance, the secondary duration remains 9 compulsory years, and 2 optional years wherein a person can decide to opt for a 2 year vocational school.
The Azerbaijan educational system hasn’t change much and is still largely based on the soviet system of education. But some government universities such as Baku State University and most private universities are beginning to introduce the Bologna system as is practiced in Europe. It should be said that teachers did not have it so good during the communist USSR, and as such, even today, the teachers and lectures are still not well paid. Despite the tremendous positive improvement in their financial status, but a lot still need to be done in other to keep them in bracket with other sectors of the economy.
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