Seven important proposals for the Ministry of Education

On February 14, the President signed a decree on raising scholarships for students. According to the decree, from March 1, 2019 scholarships will increase by an average of almost 20%, the number of places funded by the state will increase to 16 thousand. Thus, about 600 doctoral students and over 110 thousand students will take advantage of this decree. The number of students receiving a scholarship will increase from 31 percent to 45 percent.
I welcome all this. At the same time, I want to share some of my calculations and suggestions. According to estimates, 25 million AZN will be allocated from the state budget for this purpose (12% of those envisaged for this year because of external debts from the state budget or 9% allocated for social and economic financing and financing of other activities).
I mean that if the budget funds were properly distributed, Azerbaijan would not organize senseless events, and the state budget would not be obliged to pay external loans that are so inefficiently used by state structures, then the scholarship for students could be increased not by 20%, but by 50%, because an increase by 20% is not enough. After the increase, students with the highest academic performance will receive a scholarship of 130 manat. This means that the size of the average scholarship will be below 90 manat. If we consider that this year the living wage is set at 180 manat, then these funds are not sufficient even to meet the minimum needs.
Therefore, I suggest the Ministry of Education and the Cabinet of Ministers the following:
1) The minimum consumer basket should be calculated not only for the country, but also for regions, and the student scholarship should be reduced to the level of the minimum consumer basket. One should remember that the cost of renting an apartment in Zakataly and in Baku is different, as well as the prices for products, therefore the difference must be taken into account.
2) The level of student scholarships over three years should be increased to 75% from the current 45%. There should be a chance for three of four students to receive a scholarship.
3) Students should be given scholarships not only from the state budget, but also from the Funds (Rector, Vice-Rector, Dean), which are created with funds of the Ministry of Education and paid education at universities.
4) At the expense of special funds of state bodies, scholarships will be allocated for the regions conducting their policies. For example, the Central Bank for students receiving education in the banking system. Ministry of Finance for students studying in the financial specialties. Let the Ministry of Agriculture grant scholarships to students specializing in the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Justice - for law students, the Ministry of Culture - for students studying in the field of culture and art. Let private companies join this process.
5) In order to reduce students' living expenses it is necessary to allocate funds from the investment expenditures of the state budget to provide students with hostels. To build for students a common residential complex in the village of Darnagyul and on Yasamal, and the internally displaced people living in that area should be transferred to new residential areas.
6) Students undergoing doctoral programs should be given the right to choose themselves along with local and foreign academic leaders. In addition, the right to work for a foreign academic leader of doctoral students should be provided, and additional funds should be allocated from the budget for the Ministry of Education so that doctoral students can take part in summer internship programs in those universities where their foreign leaders work.
7) From the state budget should be paid for the training of all students enrolled in the 2019-2020 academic year for training in the master's, bachelor's and doctoral programs at universities, included in the first hundred of the best.