The increase in the country's defense expenditures, the problems of education and the metropolitan traffic jams on the roads, and the harm of tutoring to education are the leading topics of today's media.
The Azerbaijan newspaper writes about an increase in the defense budget. For the past 12 years, the country's military budget exceeds 1 billion manat. The state budget for 2019 on defense and national security provides for 3 billion 37.6 million manat. Thus, defense spending in 2019 will be 132.4 million manat more than in 2018.
The website Marja.az writes that since January 2013, private universities have been exempted from 18 percent VAT. These tax breaks were aimed at reducing university expenses and making paid tuition affordable. During the application of 18 percent VAT, the interest of young people in universities decreased. The student enrollment plan was not implemented. Expert Vugar Bayramov believes the elimination of VAT increased the salaries of teachers and reduced the tuition fees for students.
The website Azadliq.info writes about tutoring, which became a headache in Mingachevir. There, education in grades 10-11 is purely formal, since all students go to tutors. Parents believe that without tutoring their children will not be able to go to college. Already from the 9th grade, children go to tutors because the level of teaching in schools is low. In Mingchchevir, where the population has mostly low incomes, tutoring in 4-5 subjects per month costs about 150 manat and more. And what if the family has not one, but several children? To prevent tutoring, it is necessary to monitor the schools, the author believes.
The website Strateq.az discusses the issue of traffic jams in the capital, which has not been solved for many years. And this is despite the fact that over the past 10 years, tunnels and bridges have been built, and other measures have been taken. Another problem of traffic jams is the placement of universities, shopping centers, factories, and large entrepreneurial facilities within the capital, and traffic of large-tonnage vehicles on the capital"s streets. -0-
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On January 7, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree increasing the salaries of employees in several organizations funded by the state budget. According to the decree, the monthly salaries of managerial and other employees in around 20 institutions (including the Presidium, Apparatus, and Ganja Branch of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and the Heydar Aliyev Center) will increase by an average of 15% starting January 1, 2025.
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The demolition of the popular "Shusha" restaurant located in the Nasimi district of Baku has started.
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Azerbaijan is expected to experience predominantly dry weather on January 9, according to the National Hydrometeorological Service.
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The Rome Institute of European Design (IED) has granted a full tuition waiver to Azerin Gasymly, a third-year student and daughter of Azerbaijani political activist Azer Gasymly, who is currently detained on charges of extortion. The institute’s decision follows an appeal from Gasymly’s family, citing financial hardship due to her father's imprisonment, which they claim is politically motivated.
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