Why students rally or perversion of the Bologna Process

How the Bologna system is used in Azerbaijan is contrary to its spirit and effectively legalizes bribery in universities.

This opinion was expressed in an interview with Turan of the head of the NGO Center of Education - 21 Century, Etibar Aliyev, commenting the BSU students protest against fees for re-examination.

Until now, the credit system in universities of Azerbaijan was applied selectively.

However, December 24, 2013 the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution N 348 on the "Rules of organization of studies on the credit system in higher education at undergraduate and graduate level."

Under the new system, for each semester a student must earn 30 credits for about 7-8 subjects. In the year that makes 60 credits and in 4 years - 240.

However, to earn these credits the student must earn points by participating in seminars, colloquia and examinations. If he does not gain the minimum number of points, the loans are not provided.

A student does not remain on the course, but he is transferred to the next course. However, the debt on his loans remains and for their repayment, he has to be trained during the summer holidays and pass resit. And he has to pay for the summer training.

The payment amount is determined as follows: a year's worth of study is divided by 60 and multiplied by the number of outstanding loans. In this case , it turns out a large sum , as the average cost of education in Azerbaijan is about 2,000 manats. If a student has some 10 credits, then he pays 300-400 manats.

Using the same formula, students who enrolled free of charge, also have to pay.

If a student after summer courses has not scored enough points again, he has to retake the course next summer and pay for it again.

According to Aliyev, in countries with the Bologna system there is no such compulsion for additional training.

"We have expenses for teachers saddled with students. At the same time, teachers are paid meager money, although the university earns large amounts. It's actually "legalization" of bribery in universities," said Aliyev .

According to Aliyev , teachers are given tacit orders to understate the points. If all the students in a group are admitted to the exam, it displeases the university administration and the teacher can be exerted pressure.

Aliyev believes that the way out is to improve the quality and methods of education, and not onerous measures against students. -06B-