Russian schools in Baku will reportedly not be shutting down, as per statements made by local authorities.
The future of Russian-language education in Azerbaijan has been a topic of discussion, with rumours circulating about a potential phasing out of Russian-language schools over a three-year period. However, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, has clarified that there are no current plans to close Russian-language schools or sections in the country [4][5].
The current landscape of Russian-language education in Azerbaijani schools is marked by a significant shortage of qualified teachers. The recruitment process faces challenges, with candidates for Azerbaijani-language positions scoring significantly higher (over 80 points) compared to those for Russian-language positions (between 50 and 60 points) [4]. This discrepancy often necessitates the hiring of teachers with lower scores for Russian-language departments, which could potentially impact the quality of education provided.
The discussions surrounding potential changes in Russian-language education are primarily driven by the desire to promote Azerbaijani as the primary state language and to foster national unity through a unified education system. Additionally, the maintenance of Russian-language classes and schools is questioned due to strategic, ideological, and pedagogical considerations, as well as the financial implications of supporting these programs through the state budget [3].
It is important to note that Azerbaijani schools expect all students to be proficient in both Azerbaijani and foreign languages, including Russian. In Azerbaijan, every student is educated at the expense of the country's budget, underscoring the importance of ensuring a high standard of education across all departments.
As of now, there are approximately 150-160,000 students enrolled in Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan. Out of these, 16 schools offer education only in Russian, while the rest are bilingual. However, no official information has been provided about any plans to address the shortage of Russian language teachers in Azerbaijani schools.
In recent news, tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia have escalated. Baku initiated its own investigations against Russians, including a raid in the Sputnik editorial office and the arrest of two journalists. Furthermore, the head of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Moscow was deported from Russia.
Despite these challenges, the Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, has emphasised the importance of students being proficient in both Azerbaijani and foreign languages, including Russian. The Minister's statements were reported by a news agency, but the name of the news agency was not specified.
In conclusion, while there have been discussions and rumours about closing Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan, the government has not officially proposed such a plan. The Minister of Science and Education has affirmed that Russian-language education will continue, with efforts to improve teacher recruitment and training. However, challenges in teacher training and recruitment persist, affecting the quality of education provided in these programs.
- The political discussions concerning Russian-language education in Azerbaijan, driven by the promotion of Azerbaijani as the primary state language and the fostering of national unity, have also been influenced by strategic, ideological, and pedagogical considerations, as well as the financial implications of supporting these programs.
- In the realm of education and self-development, the shortage of qualified Russian-language teachers in Azerbaijani schools poses a significant challenge, with candidates for Azerbaijani-language positions scoring significantly higher compared to those for Russian-language positions, often necessitating the hiring of teachers with lower scores for Russian-language departments, potentially impacting the quality of education provided.
