The gossip of the "rich and poor" about the reduction of free places in group III...

The allotment of state-funded slots in the third group of admissions to higher education institutions in Azerbaijan has undergone a reduction, as announced on August 11 by Maleyka Abbaszade, the Chair of the Board of Directors at the State Examination Center (SEC). In comparison to the previous year, Abbaszade noted an augmentation of 940 placements in Group III. He further emphasized that the total number of state-sponsored seats had actually decreased by 328.

Several social media users posit that the decrease in state-funded spots in Group III could impede the entry of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals into fields that demand substantial resources and qualifications.

Yet, Jeyhun Mammadov, a Member of the Committee on Science and Education in the Milli Majlis, contended  in an interview with Turan that the reduction of planned slots in Group III is not a result of subjective factors. Rather, he attributes this shift to the escalating inclination among young individuals towards technical, information technology, engineering, and medical fields. Mammadov highlighted that today's youth recognize the greater suitability of focusing on technical domains as opposed to the humanities. He underscored the need to diversify career paths beyond the realms of law, civil service, and diplomacy.

Mammadov cited the persistently healthy influx of applicants and graduates in humanities while acknowledging the challenges they face in securing employment. He emphasized the urgent demand for Information Technology (IT) specialists, both in Azerbaijan and globally, where approximately 3 million such professionals are required. This stance led Mammadov to advocate for a balanced emphasis on technical, construction, and medical sectors.

MP Fazil Mustafa echoed Mammadov's perspective, rejecting the premise that the reduction of planned Group III slots stems from economic disparities. Mustafa dismissed the notion that this move disproportionately affects disadvantaged students, attributing the shift to the prevailing concern of rising unemployment in certain fields.

Mustafa critiqued the insufficient faculty resources and training opportunities as culprits behind the glut of humanities graduates and its minimal impact on societal progress. He cited the weak influence of humanities graduates in the country's social development as evidence.

Farid Imanov, Chair of the Student Power Center Organization, voiced o Radio Azadlig his stance on the matter. He argued that the contraction of unpaid slots in Group III, as well as any group, should not be pursued. Imanov contends that education is a state responsibility and ought to be rendered free of charge. He criticized the state for maintaining commercial interests in education when considering the context of a country where the minimum wage stands at 350 Manats, juxtaposed against the demand for 2,000 Manats in tuition. Imanov also lamented the discord between the quality of state-offered education and the associated costs.

Imanov further interpreted the curtailment of unpaid slots in Group III as a state-driven effort to discourage students from venturing into domains that could foster their political and legal development.

According to official sources, over the past five years, state-sponsored slots in Azerbaijani higher education institutions have seen a 118.7% increase. The total number of admission plan placements has grown by 34.6%. This year, the tally of state-funded seats rose by 8% to reach 27,691. Notably, six to seven years ago, more than 70% of the seats were reported to be paid.

Last year, the allotment for planned placements reached 51,881, surging to over 56,000 this year.