Experts Criticize Maleyka Abbaszadeh’s Proposal

The offer of the head of the State Examination Center Maleyka Abbaszadeh to introduce a paid entrance exams system in universities contradicts the Constitution of Azerbaijan. Such an opinion in an interview with Turan was expressed by an expert in the field of law, a member of the Civil Society Platform Alasgar Mammadli.

The introduction of fees for entrance exams is fundamentally contrary to the social functions of the state, established by the Constitution. The transformation of a state body in the status of public legal entity into a commercial one is not allowed. The introduction of paid services, without the possibility of an alternative free exam violates the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

At the same time, applicants now pay a fee of AZN 2, which, given the large number of applicants, is sufficient to conduct the test of the competition, said Mammadli.

The Executive Secretary of the movement Republican Alternative Natig Jafarli also declared the charges for exams unfounded.

Entrance examinations are passed by 100 thousand people every year at the cost of 25 AZN per person (this amount was called by Abbaszadeh), and the total costs amount to 2.5 million AZN.

At the same time, the authorities spent 100 million AZN on such an unnecessary event as the car racing Formula 1, Jafarli said. The sum would let organize free entrance exams for 40 years, he said.

In comparison, Jafarli referred to Germany, where higher education has been entirely free from last year, including for foreigners, who speak German.

"That's why Germany manufactures Mercedes cars, while we just paint the wheels of these cars black," Jafarli said ironically on his Facebook page. -06D-