The number of pre-school education departments fell by 6.2%

Despite the government's statements about the care of pre-school education, the situation in this area has deteriorated. Decreased the number of kindergartens and nurseries, visiting their children aged 1-5 years, as well as attendance.

According to of the State statistics Committee, coverage of kindergartens and nurseries at the beginning of this year in Azerbaijan is only 13.1%, which is 1.5% lower than a year earlier. In 2005, the figure was 19.6%. If urban coverage rate in 2013 was 18.8% (8.2% less than in 2005), in rural areas the situation is even worse - 7.5% (minus 4.3%).

As of the 2013-2014 school year, operating in Azerbaijan are 1680 pre-school (3 + units compared to last year). According to official figures, at the beginning of 2001 there were 1790 kindergartens and nurseries. Thus, in 13 years the number of pre-schools decreased by 110 or 6.2%. If, in 2012 these places education and training received 111,090 children, last year this figure fell to 107,699 (including in cities - 75 200).

Against this background, a growing number of private kindergartens and nurseries. If in 2003-2005 in Azerbaijan they were only 3, then today there are 41 listed in their 1561 children (including girls - 490).

In 2007, part of kindergartens and nurseries in Azerbaijan was opened for privatization. As of January 1 this year there were privatized 82 pre-schools. At the same time some of them, contrary to the terms of privatization, changed the profile of activities.

Pre-school education in Azerbaijan is funded from the state budget. In private kindergartens it costs parents an average of 600 manat at the official average salary of 423 manat per month. --08B--