Russia wants to open schools in Azerbaijan

Official data shows that there are 159,031 students enrolled in Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan, compared to 90,000 five years ago. Additionally, 16,000 students study in Russian departments at universities. Russia has expressed its desire to open schools in Azerbaijan, where the Russian curriculum and textbooks would be introduced.

During a meeting in the Russian State Duma on May 31, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk mentioned that an intergovernmental agreement was signed in September of the previous year to establish five such schools in Tajikistan. Furthermore, negotiations are underway with Armenia and Azerbaijan to build similar schools. The Duma Committee on CIS Affairs recently presented a project on this matter, urging the Russian government to expedite the construction of Russian-language schools in CIS countries, train Russian-speaking teachers, and accelerate the development of unified textbooks.

Azerbaijan has a significant number of Russian-language schools, but they currently operate based on the Azerbaijani curriculum. The proposal suggests the creation of schools operating under the Russian program. Some experts believe that Russia is pursuing its political interests in Azerbaijan through this initiative.

Member of the Committee on Science and Education of the Milli Majlis, Jeyhun Mammadov, stated to Turan that Azerbaijan has one of the highest numbers of Russian-speaking schools in the CIS. He emphasized that Azerbaijan is guided by its own interests and ideology, as Russian textbooks might contain information that serves Russia's interests and promotes its state ideology. Mammadov added that while the issue can be discussed with Azerbaijan, it does not mean that Russian-prepared textbooks will be taught in the same way, as Azerbaijan is an independent state with its own laws and education system.

Textbooks used in Russian-speaking schools in Azerbaijan are currently compiled by local specialists. Political commentator Arastun Orujlu, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, noted that the Russian government had previously sought to spread education in Russian in the post-Soviet space. He stated that Azerbaijan already prioritizes the preservation and spread of the Russian language, and the increased popularity of Russian-speaking schools in the country is well-known. Orujlu believes that the intention behind opening these schools is not solely to spread the Russian language but rather to expand Russia's ideological and political influence. He considers the opening of these schools as a pilot project that could potentially lead to the introduction of the Russian education system in all Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan, viewing it as an attempt to cultivate a "fifth column" of Russia in the new generation.

Orujlu suggests that the Azerbaijani government should refrain from participating in this project and consider restrictions on Russian education in Azerbaijan.