Bilingual Education Experiment Proves Successful in Russian-Speaking Schools in Azerbaijan

Baku/13.09.23/Turan: In a bold move to promote linguistic diversity and national cohesion, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Science and Education has undertaken an experimental curriculum change in Russian-speaking schools across the country. The experiment, conducted during the 2022-2023 academic year, involved the teaching of history subjects in the Azerbaijani language in select grades, and the preliminary results have been met with cautious optimism.

Under the directive of Minister Emin Amrullayev, fifth-grade students in twenty Russian-speaking secondary schools were exposed to "History of Azerbaijan" lessons in Azerbaijani. In parallel, ninth-grade students were instructed in "History of Victory," also in Azerbaijani. The ministry is set to scrutinize the outcomes of this pilot project and make a decision regarding the language of instruction for these subjects in the forthcoming 2023-24 academic year.

This progressive initiative has ignited a passionate debate within Azerbaijani society. Concerns have been raised by some parents who fear that teaching certain subjects in Azerbaijani within Russian-speaking schools might add to the academic workload of their children. Meanwhile, others, including parents of Russian ethnicity, have taken to social media to endorse the merits of learning in Azerbaijani, emphasizing the importance of proficiency in the country's official language.

Education expert Nadir Israfilov has proposed an even broader integration of Azerbaijani language instruction into Russian-speaking schools, suggesting the translation of Azerbaijani literature and geography courses into the state language. While recognizing the significance of students mastering the Azerbaijani language, Israfilov has also acknowledged the hurdles of securing sufficient teachers and the complexities of implementing bilingual education in schools with already demanding mandatory programs. He advocates patience while awaiting the final stance of the Ministry of Science and Education.

Dr. Rena Safaralieva, a Doctor of Philology, in an interview with Turan, underscored the recent requirement for all graduates of Russian-speaking schools to pass an exam testing their proficiency in the Azerbaijani language. She emphasized the importance of adhering to the laws of the country, including the mandate to learn the state language, and encouraged immersion in the linguistic environment. Dr. Safaralieva debunked several common misconceptions, such as the lack of suitable books and instructors, and instead encouraged parents to explore the readily available resources for learning Azerbaijani.

One of the key questions arising from this discourse is why children, as citizens of Azerbaijan, should solely acquire proficiency in the state language within the school environment, rather than within their families and communities. Dr. Safaralieva highlighted parallels with the controversy surrounding the transition from the Cyrillic to Latin alphabet three decades ago. She noted that concerns of illiteracy and disconnect from Cyrillic literature proved unfounded as the populace successfully adapted to the new script.

In response to inquiries, Jasaret Valekhov, the head of the Ministry of Science and Education's press service, told Turan that the pilot project's results had been positively evaluated. Surveys among students and teachers involved in the project indicated a favorable reception, with participants reporting improved language skills and critical thinking abilities. As a result, the ministry intends to expand the initiative to encompass more schools, extending the teaching of history in Azerbaijani even to high school grades.

The conversation surrounding language and education in Azerbaijan continues to evolve, with the government's pioneering experiment pointing the way toward a more inclusive and linguistically diverse future for the country's students.

Asef Hajiyev, Doctor of Philology, member of the Coordinating Council of the International Pedagogical Society for the Support of the Russian Language, notes that in Azerbaijan more than 100 thousand (about 15%) of schoolchildren receive education in Russian.  Russian is taught in about 400 schools, 50 schools have departments with the Russian language of instruction, and in departments with the Azerbaijani language of instruction, Russian is taught as one of the foreign languages.--0--