CC BY
62The tasks of the 21st century in the field of education of librarians and information specialists are the study and application of innovations. In this context, the training and teaching of information engineering can be considered as a modern innovative approach.
As can be seen the Library Science of the XXI century should carry out the wide application of the problem of information engineering by studying it in library practice in complex form.
So, summarizing the above said we can conclude that the problem of information should be studied in complex form and determined the priority areas and the experts of these areas.
Library -information activity is getting complicated day by day and it will be more complicated after few years. So the library information activity is the information engineering, isn't it?
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HEYDAR ALIYEV'S HERITAGE IN EDUCATION
Ahmadov H.
Dr. Prof. Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Zeynalova N. PhD in Pedagogy, Assoc. Prof. Azerbaijan University of Language Suleymanov F. Graduate of University of Oslo, PhD student
Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Abstract
With his incomparable merits in the development of Azerbaijani science, education, and culture, the eminent leader Heydar Aliyev was a strong defender of our national science and education in all times of his leadership over the country. The national leader's extremely sensitive attitude towards the field was not ungrounded. Heydar Aliyev approached the advance of science and education as a vital basis of the national state-building process considering the improvement of people's intellectual level as a priority issue. Azerbaijan fully transformed into the land of educated people in the years of Heydar Aliyev's leadership during both Soviet Union and independence. Heydar Aliyev personally headed the entire strategic activities aimed at the future development of Azerbaijan. With comprehensive development programs, H.Aliyev was able to transform Azerbaijan into a republic of advanced industry, agriculture, culture, and education. This research paper investigates Heydar Aliyev's heritage in education and sheds light on his immense contribution to the development of education in Azerbaijan.
Keywords: Heydar Aliyev, education, school, higher education, reform, development, leader, youth
Reforms in the education. Heydar Aliyev's activity in the field of education mainly reflects the following directions: He nationalized the staff of the Azerbaijani enlightening system with local cadres, built schools all over the republic, particularly in the villages, displayed care for teachers, expanded the system of appointment, the teachers appointed to work
in villages were provided with the accommodation rent allowance and other privileges, the youth were provided with conditions to receive higher education and noncompetitive nomination to higher education institutions in order to provide provinces with experts, the number of higher education institutions was increased with their logistical supply reinforced and
efforts made to link the Azerbaijani education with the education system of advanced countries.
Heydar Aliyev firstly began nationalizing the Azerbaijan Enlightening Ministry's personnel to achieve the end successfully. The cadres demand was increased. Employment of Azerbaijani education employees in the ministerial system was strengthened. Those committing faults in work, including non-Azerbaijanis, started to be discharged from their positions. For ex., the improper actions of the Enlightening Deputy Minister R.A.Balayan were discussed at the Azerbaijan CP NC's bureau meeting dated March 13, 1970 and he was discharged.
As the means expended on the national enlightening enterprises were very limited at H.Aliyev's coming to the power, he did not spare efforts for raising them and achieved this goal. The expenditures for supporting the national enlightening fields increased every year since 1969. For ex., 377.1 mln manats was allocated from the 1977 state budget of Azerbaijan for supporting the national enlightening, which was by 19.3 mln manats more versus 1976.
In 1978, 384.3 mln manats was allocated from the state budget for the national enlightening institutions, which exceeded the figure of 1976 by 8.9 percents. In the forthcoming years, the volume of means for supporting the national enlightening institutions kept increasing. For ex., 723.5 mln manats was allocated in 1981 for funding the national enlightening institutions, which surpassed the previous year's indicator by 4.7 percent. The social-cultural expenditures constituted 57.2 percent of the entire budget, or 1 billion 235 mln 200 manats. This was by 5 percent less than the plan for 1980, and by 10.8 percent more than that for 1979. In 1982, the funds allocated for financing the national enlightening institutions amounted to 689 mln manats with a 4-percent growth versus 1980. 372.5 mln manats was provided for supporting the national enlightening system which marked a 46-percent growth, or 9.9 percent growth versus the report of 1980.
Another basic direction of Heydar Aliyev's activity aiming at the development of Azerbaijani enlightening system covered the construction of new school buildings, involvement of the school-aged children to education and popularization of the education. In the period between 1969 and 1982, construction of the new school buildings and involvement of children to schools in Azerbaijan constantly followed the advancing line. It is worth noting that until April 1920, i.e., the establishment of Soviet power, there were only 976 schools in Azerbaijan, which was extremely insignificant failing to meet the people's demand for enlightening. Though the construction of school buildings commenced since the Soviet power expanded in the years of cultural revolution, it failed to cover all the settlements of Azerbaijan and meet the corresponding demand. Till the late 60s, many schools were even arranged in personal houses of different citizens attaching an air of deprivation to the villages having no separate school buildings. People felt grave need for the construction of new school buildings. It was a necessity to increase the funds allocated for school construction and implement
this task. Therefore, Heydar Aliyev started solving this problem as soon as he came to power.
The opening of 120 schools was celebrated in our republic in September 1, 1969. A part of them were newly-built, another transformed from 8-year schools to high schools. Thus, little after H.Aliyev's coming to power, the total number of high schools in Azerbaijan reached 1130. The very year, in September 1, 1 mln 130 thousand pupils started studying, which exceeded the indicator of 1968 by 70 thousand pupils. Another source claims that in the education year 1969-70, 1 mln 295 thousand pupils were studying in the day-time general education schools of Azerbaijan.
In those years, serious steps were taken for involvement of school-aged children to education with the schools network speedily expanding. In 1970, 170 new high schools were opened, of which 55 were built with the funds allocated from the state budget. In addition, many school buildings were built funded by kolkhozes and sovkhozes, i.e., the local budget. By September 1, 1970 every third person of the Azerbaijani population was covered by all kinds of education.
In 1971, a new progress was achieved in the high school education field in Azerbaijan; the number of children involved in education highly increased. That year, 1 mln 390 thousand pupils studied in the Azerbaijani schools, which was by 60 thousand pupils more versus the previous year. The number of first-graders only totaled 170 thousand. 1905 eight-year, 1303 high schools and many primary schools were active in the republic. In September 1972, 1382 (439 -in the cities, 943 - in the villages) out of the 4204 general education schools in Azerbaijan were high schools, 1843 - eight-year schools (of them, 299 - in the cities, 1544 - in the villages) and 979 - primary schools. 1 mln 412 thousand 500 pupils were studying at daytime schools. This figure meant a big jump in the field of national enlightening versus the previous year.
Such a development was gained due to the republican leader's direct care to the national enlightening. If the speedy growth of pupils' number was linked with the growth of population and demographic development on the one hand, on the other hand it was a result of involving the children having deviated from schools in the previous years, particularly the girls. The population growth was influenced mostly by the gradual improvement of welfare standards.
The special weight of educated women rapidly grew owing to the particular attention to involving the Azerbaijani girls to schools and Azerbaijani woman was playing an essential role in the republic's sociopolitical and industrial life. Already in 1978, there were 770 thousand women in Azerbaijan with higher and high education, which was speaking of the immense successes achieved in increasing the women's role in Azerbaijani society in such a short time.
Yet, a problem left way back from the 60s was pending in this field, which covered the fact of unemployment of the youth having graduated from schools. In his letter addressed to the Soviet Union CP CC dated January 24, 1969 the chief of the USSR
Central Statistics Department V.Starovsky suggested the union republics strengthening the efforts for solving this problem. Heydar Aliyev started solving the problem as soon as he came to the power and achieved successful results. The network of technical-vocational education in Azerbaijan was expanded.
Caring for the schools construction, H.Aliyev made this issue a subject of comrehensive and extensive discussion at the bureau meetings of the Azerbaijan CP CC and adopted resolute decisions regarding this. The meeting of Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau held under his chairmanship in August 28, 1973 adopted a decision regarding the construction of new school buildings in the republic's territory, which suggested building schools to cover 35 thousand pupils in 1974, 35 thousand - in 1975 and 276 thousand pupils in 1976-80. Demanding the timely and duly fulfilment of the decision from the responsible people, Heydar Aliyev resolutely prevented any faults occurred in this process.
Construction of the boarding schools also enjoyed a specific attention. The decision made by the CC intended construction of boarding schools with 2 thousand pupil coverage in 1974, with 3 thousand - in 1975 and 10 thousand - in 1976-80 from the state budget funds. The implementation of decision was kept under strict control with the schools construction process exdpanded throughout the entire republic. Due to the care rendered to the boarding schools, the pupils of these schools soon started to successfully represent Azerbaijan in the All-Union Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and other olympiads. All of these came out as an effective tool for recognition of talented Azerbaijani children, in general, the nation's intellectual level all over the country.
In 1974, around 103 thousand boys and girls finished the republic's high schools. This meant a 13 thousand growth versus 1973. That year, 1 mln 500 thousand pupils were studying in 1540 high and 1890 eight-year schools operating in the republic.
In the 1976-1977 education year, 1 mln 464 thousand 400 pupils studied in the day-time schools of Azerbaijan with 1754 high and 1743 eight-year schools active in the republic. Owing to the intense labor and successive work, 75 percent of the school network was shortly located in villages and the schools construction mission in Azerbaijani villages largely expanded. In the education year 1974-75, 147 school buildings were constructed and put into operation in the republic, which marked a significant advance in the history of Azerbaijani enlightening.
By 1978, it was intended to build schools with 48.7 thousand pupils coverage, including high school buildings with 29.5 thousand pupils coverage with a substantial funding from the Azerbaijani state budget. This mission was also done with success, owing to which the number of people with full high education totaled 1 mln 104 thousand 200 men, or 18.8 percent of the entire Azerbaijani population in the years of passage to obligatory high education.
In 1968-78, the number of high schools in Azerbaijan grew by 77 percent with the number of village schools reaching from 680 to 1264. Due to all of these,
the image of Azerbaijani village was rapidly changing. Interest in science and education kept growing and schools were shaped up in villages as the centers of culture.
In general, Azerbaijan fully transformed into the land of educated people in the years of Heydar Aliyev's first leadership over the country; the educated urban population made 100 percent and analogic rural population - 99.9 percent referring to the 1979 census. In 1980, 1-mln 400 thousand pupils were studying at the general education schools in Azerbaijan and this was an unmatched success throughout the entire history of Azerbaijan. In his speech at the meeting with the first-year students received to the higher schools in Moscow, Leningrad and other cities of the country dated August 29, 1981 H.Aliyev stated: "At present, 1 mln 857 thousand men have been covered over different kinds of education in Azerbaijan, over 1.5 mln of them studying at the general education schools, and the rest at the higher and technical schools".
Special attention was paid to the training of teachers, increasing the number of teachers with higher education and providing the village schools with qualified teacher cadres. It is worth noting that by September 1, 1969 only 50 percent of the 75 thousand teachers working at the primary, eight-year and high schools of Azerbaijan had higher education. The head of Azerbaijan took resolute steps aimed at the immediate correction of the state and commenced urgent measures. At the meeting dated August 12, 1969 the Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau made a decision on noncompetitive entry to higher schools of the youth coming from different regions of the republic. The mission successfully continued also in the further years was aimed at providing the Azerbaijani villages with different professionals, including the teachers. The decision was simultaneously directed towards the progress of general culture and education in the Azerbaijani villages. The successful implementation of the decision played an exceptional role in the development of Azerbaijani villages in the 1970s-80s.
Yet, it should be underlined that some faults were committed in the non-competitive enrolment to higher schools. Some regions did not recommend the youth in the number intended for the higher school plans, the training level of the graduates coming to the exam was low, etc. Heydar Aliyev demanded the soon and resolute elimination of the faults charing the corresponding tasks. In regard of this, he stated in one of his speeches in 1982 that only 7 graduates have been enrolled to higher schools while 30 non-competitive places were allocated for 30 regions of the republic.
Arrival of the youth from villages to Baku and other cities to receive pedagogical education put forward another topical problem. There was a lack of hostel network for accommodation of the students and renting a flat being expensive created difficulties for them. Therefore, Heydar Aliyev was also thinking about the students' living conditions causing adoption of the appropriate decisions.
The decision adopted in August 28, 1973 by the Azerbaijan CP CC and Azerbaijan SSR Council of Ministers intended the construction of 4.7 sq. m. hostels
in 1975 and 50.6 sq. m. hostels within 1976-80s attached to the pedagogical institutes and schools. The implementation of this decision serving to improvement of living conditions of the youth coming from regions to receive pedagogical education and advance of enlightening in the villages and regions was under the personal control of Heydar Aliyev. Due to all of these, construction of the student hostels of the pedagogical institutes and schools was successfully carried out.
Rendering a particular care to the young specialists leaving to work in villages and the teachers having been working there from the previous years, Heydar Aliyev was expanding the geography of Azerbaijani enlightening and achieving the growth of quality education. Young specialists were appointed to the areas to increase the level of national enlightening in the villages. In 1969, 4 thousand young teachers were appointed and sent to work in regions. Though a part of them left these places after the appointment term finished, some married in the villages and joined the local population. Surely, those people played an immense role in the implementation of the general policy aimed at the progress of schools in Azerbaijani villages and enlightening of the rural population. In the 70s, teachers were receiving the highest salaries in villages and considered the most respectful persons.
In 1971, the teachers of the general education schools in villages, as well as the retired teachers of the very schools and teachers of the general education subjects of three-year village technical schools were released of the agriculture taxes. This step stimulated the revival of schoolwork in villages, improvement of the teachers' welfare and increase of their authority.
Another sample of the care displayed for enlightening in Azerbaijan was the all-population discussion of the draft law On the National Enlightening and its adoption with the adoption and implementation of the law contributing vastlz to the advance of the Azerbaijani school.
Heydar Aliyev attached a particular importance also to the creation of primary and high school textbooks in native language. In 1972, 86 types of high school textbooks with total 5 mln copies were published. In 1874, 100 types of textbooks, 7 types of teacher guidance manuals and 10 types of practical guidance editions were published with 600 thousand copies and sent to the schools. 93 kinds of textbooks were published in 1976 with a total circulation of 5 mln 590 thousand pieces.
Heydar Aliyev took part in the conferences of Azerbaijani teachers and delivered program speeches. The meeting of the Azerbaijan CP CC dated March 25, 1978 adopted a decision on summoning the conference of Azerbaijani teachers. The Bureau's meeting on May 17 approved the text of Heydar Aliyev's letter of congratulation to the conference participants and his report to be made. Taking part in the VI conference of Azerbaijani teachers held in May that year, Heydar Aliyev delivered an extensive speech, which deeply analyzed the historic path of development and current state of the Azerbaijani school and defined the perspectives and challenges to be confronted. Heydar Aliyev pointed out
that he attaches a particular importance to the role of education in the progress of Azerbaijani nation.
Hundreds of facts prove Heydar Aliyev's exceptional contributions to the awarding of Azerbaijani high school teachers with honorary names and recognition throughout the country. In regard of this, he repeatedly wrote letters to the Soviet Union CP CC boldly insisting on his requests. For ex., in April 23, 1981 he wrote a confidential letter #233 to the CC on awarding Z. Shoyubov with the honorary name of the USSR People's Teacher soon achieving this goal. The numerous requests addressed to Moscow for awarding the teachers with honorary names marked the big attention the Azerbaijani leadership displayed to the teachers' labor. The value attached to teachers covered even all the distant regions of Azerbaijan. Heydar Aliyev would usually present the prizes to representatives of the enlightening field personally.
One of such ceremonies was held in December 1981. The speech delivered by Heydar Aliyev at the prize presentation ceremony fully discloses the essence of his attitude towards the Azerbaijani teacher and school. He stated: "The profession of teacher is an honorable and beautiful profession. Our nation called the most respected and decent people as teacher since ancient times".
Heydar Aliyev also celebrated the anniversaries of schools with long histories. Corresponding decisions of the Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau were adopted for this. For ex., the Bureau's meetings dated January 12 and February 9, 1982 adopted a decision on commemoration of the 150th anniversary of high schools in Shusha and Sheki and 125th anniversary of the School #1 in Lenkeran. Wide-ranging events were held in accordance with the decision and logistical supply of the schools was reinforced. Yet, the celebration of anniversaries in the further years was stopped since the number of schools with long historic traditions was sufficiently big.
Heydar Aliyev constantly tried to increase the funds allocated for the training of cadres with higher education on different specializations for Azerbaijan. It should be noted for comparison that the materials of the I All-Azerbaijan Soviet Conference indicate availability of only 62 men with higher education in Azerbaijan before April 1920. Perfectly understanding the problems this limitation would cause, Heydar Aliyev paid a special attention to the training of specialists with higher education.
Adherence to the principles of social justice and ensuring of transparency in the education system, as well as prevention of the social category differences at enrolment to higher education institutions ranked among the fields enjoying a specific attention of Hey-dar Aliyev. Exactly due to such attention, knowledge became the true and only criterion in our higher schools way back at that period. Since the late 50s and early 60s, the cases of bribery and corruption having found their way into our temples of science and education displaying as an integral part of the harmful elements in the system of government administration were resolutely prevented. Due to the transparency Heydar Ali-
yev created with immense determination and principality, the children of the underprivileged, laborious people having no other trust else than their knowledge also got the chances to be enrolled for respectful specializations of higher schools in those years. Stating "Let the justice triumph!" in his famous interview to the "Literaturnaya Gazeta" at the beginning of 80s, our eminent leader truly achieved the triumph of justice in the Azerbaijani education.
Heydar Aliyev created favorable conditions for the education of workers and peasants' children preventing the high-ranking officials to place their children through different ways to the Law Faculty of Azerbaijan State University. Consequently, the special weight of workers and peasants' children enrolled to the higher schools of Azerbaijan reached over 67 percent in 1978, which meant a 13-percent growth versus the previous year. It is worth noting that in Europe, the rural population was historically accepted as the protectors of the national blood. The attention paid to the higher education of the people representing different social categories in Azerbaijan expanded the general network of the education, enlightening and culture, increased the republic's cultural level and enhanced the people's belief in the power.
Heydar Aliyev paid a specific attention to the development of Azerbaijani higher education, expanded the appropriate network, increased the number of students and rendered care to the teachers. As was mentioned already, there were only 13 higher schools in the republic before Heydar Aliyev came to the power. However, he believed the number of higher schools does not meet the growing demand of the Azerbaijani population. Therefore, the leader of Azerbaijan attached a particular importance to the opening of new higher education institutions. Owing to his very attention and care, the number of higher schools in Azerbaijan reached 17 in 1980. The Institute of Russian Language and Literature, as well as the Construction Engineers Institute were opened in Baku, different institutes were opened in Nakhchivan and Khankendi, 23 new faculties and 72 new chairs were established in the higher education institutions within 1976-1980, and by 1980, 75 secondary vocational schools were active in our republic training specialists in over 140 specializations.
If in the previous years Azerbaijan lagged behind the neighboring republics in this field, Azerbaijan left behind not only those republics, but also the Eastern republics in general for the level and scale of the cadres with higher and high vocational education owing to Heydar Aliyev's activity. 172 out of every 10 thousand men in the republic were students. Yet, Heydar Aliyev did not suffice with this result keeping on the mission of opening new higher schools. The Ganja Technology Institute was established directly due to his efforts, which was the 18th higher education institution in Azerbaijan. Creation of this higher school enabled the training of experts in new fields in Azerbaijan.
In general, 5 new higher schools were opened in Azerbaijan during Heydar Aliyev's leadership over the country, their logistical supply was formed, installations and other technical equipment were purchased
and delivered from foreign countries, hostels were built for students, all of which contributed to leading Azerbaijan up to the position of the advanced center of education in the South Caucasian region for the first time during the years of the soviet power.
Heydar Aliyev rendered a special care to the Baku State University among the higher education institutions in Azerbaijan and tried to increase the balance of girls in the total number of students of the higher schools. He attached a particular attention to increasing the number of scientists and expansion of the scientific researches. Let's remind that in 1920, only 259 out of the 1412 alumnis of the Azerbaijan State University were Azerbaijanis, including 40 women. In 1939-41, 479 men graduated from the University. The number of university scientists also kept on growing. In 1938-40, 1 Doctorate and 30 Candidate Theses were defended at the University's Scientific Council, in 1941-45 - 13 men, including 8 Azerbaijanis defended the Doctorate Thesis and 118 men, including 68 Azerbaijanis - the Candidate's Theses. After 1945, the number of alumnis of the Azerbaijan State University equaled to 21 thousand 928 men. In 1946-69, the number of specialists trained with higher education exceeded the indicators of the previous 25 years by over 8.3 times. In the 1970s, Azerbaijani boys and girls constituted approximately 75 percent of the University students.
Commemoration of the jubilees of higher schools also took a primary position in Heydar Aliyev's activity. From this standpoint, he paid a special attention to the Baku State University, which had exceptional contributions to the development of Azerbaijani science, culture and education. In his opinion, the teachers teaching in the University's lecture halls played an outstanding role in the progress of self-esteem, national thinking and national spirit of the Azerbaijani nation.
Heydar Aliyev delivered a brilliant speech in native language at the solemn ceremony held on the occasion of the University's 50th anniversary in November 1, 1969. In his speech, Heydar Aliyev stated that creation of the Azerbaijan State University marks the victory of progressive forces and outcomes of the struggle of the best sons of Azerbaijan lasting for several decades aiming at enlightening the native nation and opening the treasure of the world culture and science to the nation. With these words, he openly expressed his trust to the Azerbaijani independence and to the forces having struggled for it, including the figures of the People's Republic. It should not be neglected that Heydar Aliyev was sounding these ideas without hesitation as the head of the Communist Party in the republic, which considered the Azerbaijan People's Republic, the founder of the University, an enemy and tried to raze that period from memories.
At that time, some people thought that Heydar Aliyev cannot speak in Azerbaijani. Nevertheless, this speech of his caused a big sensation in the Azerbaijani society in the true sense of the word. Some people even approached him to congratulate and express him gratitude for speaking in his native language. The fact that Heydar Aliyev spoke in Azerbaijani meant a significant event for the people loving their native language and living in the national spirit. In his conversation with
those men, he said, there is no reason for surprising, this is my native language and speaking in one's own language should not be regarded a heroism. Still, actually, the fact that the republican leader delivers a speech in his native language with a higher national spirit in conditions of the soviet system could yield several undesirable results for him.
With this speech, Heydar Aliyev recommended the love for native language and importance of developing it particularly assessing its role in the advance of national traditions. Heydar Aliyev was stating with a thundering voice: "The best traditions of the Azerbaijani people have been developed in the Azerbaijan State University." He appreciated highly the University's exceptional role in the development of Azerbaijani language, people's national spirit and senses of patriotism.
The visit of guests from different cities of the country, foreign states, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and other countries to the University's anniversary was a sample of international recognition of Azerbaijani science and education. Commemoration of the University's jubilee marked a big holiday of the Azerbaijani science and culture. Not sufficing with the commemoration event, Heydar Aliyev put forward an initiative of awarding the University with the state award and in 1971, the University was awarded with the Red Labor Flag order owing precisely to his efforts and Heydar Aliyev personally presented the order. Such commemorative events were also organized in the further years.
In 1980, the Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau issued a decision regarding the commemoration of ASU's 60th anniversary and in compliance with the decision, jubilee celebrations started since the early 1980. Heydar Aliyev took part in the jubilee ceremony and delivered a comprehensive speech. His speech reflected a high appreciation of the Azerbaijani scientist, analyse of the current state of higher education and identification of the development perspectives marking the display of particular attention paid by the Azerbaijani leader to the advance of higher education.
The development of military education also gained topicality at that time as an issue of extreme importance. Anxious of the absence of Azerbaijani youth in the USSR cosmic flights training center, Heydar Aliyev personally administered the dispatch of Azerbaijani youth to the higher aviation schools. The Jemshid Nakhchivanski Military School founded by the national leader is a bright display of Heydar Aliyev's particular attention and care to the development of national education in all the fields.
At that time, Azerbaijanis were not let close to the military cadre training and USSR military elite, while there were several higher military schools in the Azerbaijani territory, which were of strategic importance at the USSR level. Though located in the territory of Azerbaijan, among the thousands of cadets of these schools there were only five to six Azerbaijanis, most of them being members of the "international" families. Certainly, this tendency could not leave Heydar Aliyev calm. With a direct intervention and care of the distinguished leader, the number of Azerbaijanis in the ranks of the youth enrolled to the higher military schools in
Baku started rapidly growing since the 1970s and the process of nationalization was launched. Under the statistics of 1979, 65 percent of the cadets were Azerbai-janis. At that time, Heydar Aliyev took another resolute step towards the national military cadre training. Creation of the Jemshid Nakhchivanski Military Lyceum carried the purpose of popularizing the interest towards the military field.
A BSU professor Yagub Mahmudov remembers the times they were invited to the traditional conference held at the Central Committee in regard of the enrolment to the higher education institutions in the late 70s: "After listening to the Minister of Education and a few rectors of the higher schools, Heydar Aliyev invited the head of the All-Troops Commanders School to deliver a speech. And immediately asked him - how many representative of the local population, that is, the Azerbaijanis do we have among the students? Highly disappointed with the answer, that is, Azerbaijanis were weakly involved in the military education; Heydar Aliyev acutely rebuked the head of the All-Troops Commanders School and charged him with precise tasks. It happened so that I also was to take part at the conference held in the Central Committee on the eve of enrolment to the higher schools the next year. Heydar Aliyev again invited the head of the All-Troops Commanders School to the floor. The man again cited different figures. Heydar Aliyev interested in the course of this important activity, in particular, the percentage of the local population. He repeatedly expressed discontent despite of a certain progress. The word of the great politician still stick on my memory: "It is necessary to send the representatives of local population to the aviation schools. We have to train pilots. One of these days, I interested in the staff of the astronauts group. I expressed my discontent of the fact that not a single Azerbaijani was included in the group. I was informed that only the graduates of the aviation schools are enrolled to the astronauts group. I interested in this issue, too. It appeared that not a single person from the local population of Azerbaijan is represented at the USSR aviation schools. Where are you looking then?!"
Heydar Aliyev personally headed the entire strategic activities aimed at the future development of Azerbaijan. In a word, the great Azerbaijani always thinking about the future of the nation, labored for the Azerbaijan of the XXI century way back at that period outstripping the time. Because of the comprehensive development programs implemented by H.Aliyev in the early 70s-80s of the XX century, Azerbaijan was transformed into a republic of advanced industry, agriculture and culture in the vast USSR environment that started to collapse by that time. This was a vivid outcome of the purposeful, widely thought-out, deeply measured policy targeted at the future and genius far-sight of Heydar Aliyev. Years passed, our national leader evaluated the pleasant yields of his intense labor in this direction like this: "The brightest outcome of Azerbaijan's development during the Soviet times is that the economic, scientific-technical and cultural potential created at that period has provided a substantial ground for our republic to operate as a fully independent state".
Way back at that time our eminent leader already saw the present days when we have joined the gift of independence and prepared the native motherland for its sovereignty. At the times of communist dominion, Heydar Aliyev was conducting a struggle, which nobody else could conduct, against the injustice committed in respect to his native nation and took very far-sighted and bold steps for the sake of Azerbaijan's future in resond to the pain suffered by his nation in conditions of harsh persecutions by the Kremlin regime.
Having a deep knowledge of the processes ongoing in the world policy and international relations, Hey-dar Aliyev never missed a chance to acquaint the Azerbaijani education representatives with the progressive education system of advanced foreign countries. With the process of passage from the confrontation between 2 states with different systems to the relaxation commenced since the late 60s, Heydar Aliyev made use of the rapprochement displayed in the USSR-USA bilateral relations and acted towards the recognition of American education system in Azerbaijan and application of its positive sides by the Center's recommendation. The Bureau meeting of the Azerbaijan CP CC in September 9, 1969 held under his chairmanship adopted the decision on organization of the Education in USA exhibition in Baku. Representatives of the Azerbaij ani education displayed great interest in the exhibition passed successfully at the present Khatai Palace from December 26, 1969 until February 9, 1970. Totally, tens of thousands of men visited the exhibition. Arrangement of the exhibition surely played an exceptional role in the Azerbaijani education representatives' acquaintance with the education system of one of the world's advanced countries in conditions of the Soviet system.
Heydar Aliyev approached the issues of development of the republican education on a wider plane trying to increase Azerbaijan's role in the competition between the two states of different systems for gaining respect in the Moslem countries. He managed to convince the party and state leaders that Azerbaijan's role of a sample for the Moslem world passes through the progress of science, education and culture in the republic. For this purpose, he paid a big attention to the advance of education, tried for the establishment of Azerbaijani education's international relations and republic's transformation into a major center training experts for foreign countries, including the Eastern countries and achieved these ends. Certainly, this mission intended also the propagation of Azerbaijani science, culture and education along with the general intentions of the Soviet regime. Exactly in the years of Heydar Aliyev's leadership over our country, Azerbaijan became one of the major centers of the Soviet state-training experts for foreign countries. Due to his direct efforts, the youth from different countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and even Europe arrived in Azerbaijan to receive higher education. Their coming also led to the increase of responsibility of the youth working at the higher education institutions of Azerbaijan with a bigger attention paid to the quality education. Heydar Aliyev recommended working with the students arriving in Azerbaijan from foreign countries, as well as the propagation
of the republic's achievements. The Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau's meeting dated August 12, 1969 adopted a decision on the improvement of work with the foreign students studying at the republic's higher education institutions. Though this decision certainly served to the state's general purposes, it was aimed at the establishment of closer links with Azerbaijan and propagation of the national history, science and culture. The number of foreign students studying at the higher schools of Azerbaijan grew from year to year. For ex., representatives of 52 countries studied among the 14 thousand students of the Azerbaijan Languages University. In
1974, 1621 persons from 55 countries studied at the higher education institutions of Azerbaijan, while in
1975, the figure reached 1647 students from 64 countries.
Such a dynamic growth of the youth arriving was linked with the high quality of science and education in the republic, creation of favorable living and education conditions for foreign students and Azerbaijan's transformation into an advanced republic to be cited as a sample. Azerbaijan managed to leave behind the other republics of USSR in this field. The republic's respect and authority kept on strengthening due to the growth of USSR influence over the developing countries in the person of Azerbaijan.
After finishing their education at the education centers of Azerbaijan, the cadres prepared for the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and even Europe, differing for the course of their socioeconomic development and level would return to their homelands to take different positions, some of them becoming later even the heads of states.
The leader of Azerbaijan also achieved the internship experience of Azerbaijani students at universities of foreign countries and education within framework of exchange programs as much as possible. For ex., only in 1979, 122 Azerbaijani students were sent to the Democratic Republic of Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia to receive education. In turn, students from those countries also arrived in Azerbaijan for receiving education. Though these countries were socialist countries, their high level of science, education and culture as european countries was anyway pointed out. Since Azerbaijan could not create direct relations with foreign countries in conditions of the Soviet power, Heydar Aliyev created conditions for the Azerbaijani youth to acquire different specializations at the country's advanced higher schools. He recommended the youth to be aware of the latest achievements of the world science and culture of the population of the city, where they study.
Since the advanced European and world science came to Azerbaijan through Russia, Heydar Aliyev tried to send Azerbaijani youth to the most respectful higher schools in different cities of USSR. This was not in vain. Because, the soviet education system was regarded as one of the most advanced education systems of the world. Heydar Aliyev also started benefiting from the opportunities of this education system. Yet, despite of their education, many of the Azerbaijani youth, particularly those coming from the villages did not know Russian language thus failing to
enrol to the country's advanced higher schools through the general competitions. Entering into the higher schools training experts in specializations, which were new for Azerbaijan, was even harder. Many of these specializations, for ex., information technologies, international law, international relations, aviation and others were not taught in Azerbaijan owing to the lack of cadres and the policy pursued by the center. Therefore, Heydar Aliyev started getting permissions for the non-competitive enrolment of the zouth to the country's higher schools in different cities, firstly, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk and others. Yet, even in 1972-73, very few Azerbaijanis went to study at those schools. It was a necessity to eliminate this situation immediately. It is worth noting that Heydar Aliyev had a program of activities in this direction with clear and precise purposes. He saw the access to the advanced world science through the Azerbaijani youth receiving perfect education at the country's respected higher schools in the Soviet system and created all the conditions for them in this field. Heydar Aliyev persistently received permissions of Moscow for the annual growth of number of the youth leaving for noncompetitive education at the country's higher schools, achieved the funding of their education from the allUnion budget and paid a particular attention to the improvement of their welfare state. The youth of Azerbaijan not only mastered sciences at the advanced higher schools, but also acquainted with the numerous historic and cultural monuments of the cities they lived in, built relations with the students having arrived from foreign countries to study and successfully represented the republic.
If the number of the youth sent to study at different schools of the country was approximately 400-600 before, later thie figure reached 800-900. Already since the mid 70s, 1627 Azerbaijani youth were studying different specializations at the high schools located in 40 cities of the country. In 1977, the figure reached 2500. it should be noted that they received education on 244 types of specializations. The higher schools of Azerbaijan did not train specialists in most of these fields.
Heydar Aliyev's activity did not finish with the above-mentioned successes. Regular meetings were held with the youth studying at different higher schools of the country by his instruction. Heydar Aliyev delivered an extensive speech at the solemn ceremony held with those students every year in Baku. These meetings and his speeches disclose the essence of the policy aimed at education of the Azerbaijani youth at the country's respected higher schools, attention paid to the policy and the personal position. For ex., in his speech sounded at the meeting held in August 1977, Heydar Aliyev stated: "Make effective use of these years for yourselves. The doors of theatres, museums, preserves and libraries are open to you. You should try to learn, expand your world outlook and increase your awareness as much as possible".
In 1975, the number of higher education schools, where Azerbaijani you were enrolled and studied, increased even further. The very year, in August, at his meeting with the young students, Heydar Aliyev stated:
"This year... 670 boys and girls were enrolled to the higher schools of other cities". Totally, that year, over 2200 students were studying at the country's 151 higher schools on 244 different specializations, 500 Azerbai-janis graduated from the other higher schools of the country in 1970-79, the enrolment percentage of Azerbaijani youth to those higher schools in the very years was increased by 10 times, and in 1979, 2800 Azerbaijani boys and girls studied in the countries other cities on 244 different specializations.
Heydar Aliyev attached a primary importance to the education and living conditions of the students and post-graduate students studying in the central cities, particularly in Moscow. The meeting of the Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau dated November 2, 1979 adopted a decision by his initiative regarding the meeting of the Bureau members with the students and post-graduate students studying in Moscow. The decision was successfully implemented.
In December the very year, a grandiose meeting of the Azerbaijan CP CC Bureau members with the Azerbaijani students and post-graduate students studying in Moscow took place at the M.Gorky Moscow State Arts Theatre's new building. The supreme Minister of Education of the USSR, city governors, rectors and famous professors of all the institutes in Moscow came to this meeting by Heydar Aliyev's invitation. Delivering an extensive speech at the meeting, Heydar Aliyev recommended to students and post-graduate students to acquire deep knowledge of the science, get closely acquainted with the Moscow monuments of history and culture indicating that every year 270-280 students are sent to Moscow to receive higher education. It is worth noting that 3315 Azerbaijanis were studying at that time at 152 higher schools located in 43 cities of USSR.
The measures in this direction kept on in the further years as well. In 1981, 853 students were sent to other higher schools, of which 720 were enrolled as the 1st-year students. In the very year, 3600 Azerbaijani students studied at the country's different higher schools in 244 specializations.
Thousands of Azerbaijani youth received education at different higher schools of the country to come to the motherland as specialists. Learning from many progressive scientists of the world, these youth brought with themselves a new knowledge, new thinking and new breath to Azerbaijan. Their studying in the country's other cities, distant provinces, close acquaintance with their environment, culture, customs and traditions assisted in their all-round development.
The young specialists working in different places of the country represented the republic proficiently. It should be marked that another goal of this policy pursued was spreading the Azerbaijanis throughout the country to form the Azerbaijani diaspora in the USSR. Heydar Aliyev wished the Azerbaijanis to take positions not in the lower or middle, but in the higher category of population regardless of where they live. He believed that Azerbaijani experts are the national treasure of Azerbaijan.
Owing to the direct intense activity of the Azerbaijani leader, the republic transformed into the land of educated people. Later, Heydar Aliyev would say: "The
biggest achievement in Azerbaijan is that we have no uneducated man. One cannot find an uneducated man in any village, or a distant mountain village of our country". The growth of the people's general level of education and culture in Azerbaijan displayed itself vividly in the XX century. All of these were, undoubtedly, historic merits of Heydar Aliyev.
Later Heydar Aliyev marked that irrespective of the ideology, socio-political and economic systems during the 70 years, several generations of Azerbaijani people received education, grew up, reached higher levels and acquired immense science and culture. All of these are the national achievements of our nation and make the intellectual potential of our Azerbaijani republic at present. In his opinion, the existing education system gained vast successes for Azerbaijan. Knowing that a nation's progress passes through the development of culture and science, he paid particular attention to this activity.
After starting to work constantly in Moscow as the first deputy of the USSR Soviet of Ministers and a member of the Soviet Union CP CC Political Bureau, Heydar Aliyev never weakened his attention to the education of Azerbaijan. He rendered a special care to the Azerbaijani education as the first deputy of the supreme minister governing the field of education. The Azerbaijani youth having received higher education at the country's advanced schools in the 70s-80s, later started working in the most different spheres of the public life after the restoration of Azerbaijan's national independence making their own contributions to the process of state-building.
Azerbaijani education during the independence period
Though these traditions identified by Heydar Ali-yev served as a kind of foundation for Azerbaijan to join its independence, unfortunately, the rich intellectual potential, the human capital formed by the national leader Heydar Aliyev way back in the 1970s-80s was not employed duly in the first years of Azerbaijan's independence.
Owing to the careless policy of the temporary powers replacing one another, science and education in Azerbaijan faced a crisis like the other fields important for the country's life, a period of grave decline commenced in this field coinciding with the emergence of dangerous trends, brain-drain in Azerbaijan increased, those serving to science and education became the country's most unrespectable social category hardly making both ends meets and languishing before the small business' growing authority. Thus, the Azerbaijani science and education became a field of unfortunate experiments.
In his closing speech at the State Committee for Education Reforms meeting in March 1999, Heydar Aliyev characterized that period as follows": "...The education system is a kind of system, which may have no revolutionary changes. In general, the changes taking place in all fields of our life are of an evolutionary character. One should never be allowed to destroy in one day the things, which had
been created for decades, and then to establish a new law, of which one has no idea himself".
In fact, the very existence of Azerbaijan as a state was under question in those years. If our national leader's powerful hands did not interfere in the processes ongoing at that time, today, definitely, the existence of an independent Azerbaijani state of a unitary system among the South Caucasian countries would seem quite unconfident. After the national leader's return to the republican supreme power in June 1993 by the people's persistent demands, our national state was saved from the danger of destruction in the true sense of the word and started out the way of development. The state was rescued from the grave political crisis and the danger of civic war it had plunged into, the rebels were suppressed and Azerbaijan's independence and integrity were provided. Getting seriously involved in the republic's fateful concerns, our eminent leader Heydar Aliyev directed his attention towards the country's political and economic advance from the very first day. Heydar Aliyev had to struggle in many fronts under such circumstances. Referring to the abundant scientific-intellectual potential he had formed in the republic way back in the 70s-80s as a most essential constituent of the ongoing state-building process, he put forward his conception of perfect education and focused on the problems of this field strategic from the standpoint of national progress. The renowned statesman kept current the integration of Azerbaijani education to the world education system with maintenance of national grounds as a primary mission and carried out progressive reforms in the field of science and education in due succession. The Article 42 of the Azerbaijan Republic Constitution worked out under Heydar Aliyev's guidance and adopted in November 12, 1995 through the national referendum established every citizen's right to free obligatory education. Simultaneously, necessary environment was ensured for the advance of concurrent private sector in order to provide the progress of national education on alternative grounds and achieve the competition for a higher level education.
In 1996, the republican government adopted a decision On the Measures for Improvement of Vocational Education in the Azerbaijan Republic on Heydar Aliyev's instructions; vocational schools and lyceums were established. Success of every progressive reform, undoubtedly, depends directly on the extent to which it correlates with the public mind and on its embracement by the society. Reposing on this reality, a grand strategist, the national leader Heydar Aliyev defended the progressive course of reforms in the national education system from the first day of his activity and achieved the discussions to commence around the issue.
The Decree On the Creation of State Commission for Education Reforms in the Azerbaijan Republic signed by our national leader in March 30, 1998, as well as the Azerbaijan Republic Program of Education Reforms approved by him in June 15, 1999 also served to ensuring exactly the gradual, stage-by-stage implementation of the education reforms and conformation of the Azerbaijani education standards
with the circumstances of new period. The Decree on the State Commission for Education Reforms in the Azerbaijan Republic is focused primarily on the implementation of international standards oriented reforms in the education system of independent Azerbaijan, development of education and reinforcement of its logistical supply, as well as ensuring of its integration to the European education space. As to the Azerbaijan Republic Program of Education Reforms, its essence covered the progressive and stage-by-stage implementation of education reforms, maintenance of the historically formed rich and innovative ideas and experience, as well as application of the world education system principles correlating with the national features of Azerbaijan. As a result of implementation of the Reforms Program, the content of education in Azerbaijan was updated, new curricula and textbooks were worked out and serious work was done for the development of standards for individual fields of education and subjects.
Another novelty in the field of higher education was granting of the financial independence to the country's 4 leading higher education schools - the Baku State University, the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, the Azerbaijan Medical University and the Azerbaijan Agriculture Academy, as well as entitlement of the University status to several higher schools by the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic On the Improvement of Education System in the Azerbaijan Republic dated June 13, 2000.
The reforms carried out by the distingushed statesman Heydar Aliyev contributed immensely to the development of most higher schools in Azerbaijan and expansion of international relations in the education field. Successive growth of the budget allocations for the development of education as a display of the national leader's attention and care to the field provided for raising ninefold the salaries of education field representatives within 1993-2001.
The Decree On the Improvement of Education System in the Azerbaijan Republic issued by the great leader Heydar Aliyev in June 13, 2003 laid grounds for the substantial improvement of the education system, organization of management on modern principles, its conformation with the international standards and integration to the global education system. The adoption of the Decree led to optimization of the network of education institutions, entitlement of several other universities with the autonomy status and creation of the Azerbaijan Teachers' Institute and its 12 affiliates aiming at raising the quality of teacher training in our country. At the same time, new education institutions - the Maritime Academy, Academy of National Safety, Music Academy, Academy of the Government Management under the President, National Music Conservatory and Aviation Institute were created.
Another factor directly influencing the general quality of education is strengthening of the logistical supply at comprehensive schools. The Presidential Decree dated October 4, 2002 On the Reinforcement of Logistical Supply of the Azerbaijan Republic General Education Schools has served specifically to expansion
of the network of general education schools, which are an essential factor in the development of national education system, and strengthening of their logistical supply. The Program on Overhaul of New General Education Schools in the Azerbaijan Republic and Their Supply with Modern Education Equipment (2003-2007) worked out by the Education Ministry in accordance with the Decree was approved by the national leader's Decree dated February 17, 2004. The approved program entailed the construction of 149 schools in the republic with 44698 pupil coverage within 2003-2007, as well as construction of 212 additional classrooms in 179 schools and overhaul of 45 schools, all of which were successfully realized.
Since June 1993, the decline and dangerous and destructive trends in the science as well as all the other fields were prevented. Favorable political, economic and legal environment was created for the advance of national science. Heydar Aliyev's strategy of national independence and national state building substantiated the idea that the main and smooth line of the eternity of state's independence and democratic development of civic society passes necessarily through the national science and national education.
For its salvation, the Azerbaijani science is thankful exactly to the great leader Heydar Aliyev. Choosing the Academy for the first meeting with the society representatives after his return to power at the people's insistence and meeting firstlz the Azerbaijani scientists, this step of Heydar Aliyev was undoubtedly an expression of the particular value he attached to the science, intellect and people, who are carriers of the intellectual potential. Thus, the eminent leader delivered to the public mind that the foundation of the independent state he started to build being a distinguished statesman following systematically the statehood traditions rest upon the scientific grounds and intellectual potential. This, on the one hand, was the confirmation of the huge respect Heydar Aliyev cherished for the science and intellect of Azerbaijan, and on the other hand, a vivid display of the endless belief and supreme trust of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia to the Heydar Aliyev personality.
Our national leader received the biggest support namely from the Azerbaijani intelligentsia during the implementation of measures and process of reforms aiming at rescuing Azerbaijan from the tragedies, pulling it out from the grave social-economic-political-moral crisis and establishment of socio-political stability in the country. Heydar Aliyev protected the Azerbaijani science, education and culture from the danger of disruption just like all the fields of society and provided a rapid growth in them. The steps taken towards the organization of social defense of the men of science, culture, literature and art, as well as the growth of allocations for these fields grounding from the national budget expansions laid the foundation of a new renaissance period.
After Heydar Aliyev's return to the power, Azerbaijani science drew itself up from the deprivations of recent years, stepped back from the abyss, set its affairs in order and stepped into the path of revival. Our talented scientists having left the
motherland and knocking about the world to make their living started gradually coming back. New directions were identified in the Academy of Sciences' activity and in essence, the third stage of development of the Academy of Sciences commenced last century following the great leader's historic meeting with a group of leading scientists in the Academy in January 31, 1997. In his speech at the meeting, Heydar Aliyev once again underlined the importance of deeper investigation and interpretation on higher scientific grounds of the centuries-long Azerbaijani history for the state. Mentioning the substantial problems confronted by the Azerbaijani science, he substantiated their topicality and recommended the scientists to engage in the strategic issues bearing bigger importantce for the Azerbaijani state and people, thus putting forward the main provisions of the science development strategy in Azerbaijan. Stressing the particular essence of humanitarian sciences for the wide public, people and nation, the great leader came with the urgency of recording the history of literature and culture, and stressed the special importance of a deeper investigation of the centuries-aged Azerbaijani history and its interpretation grounded on advanced scientific principles for the state: "Certainly, physics, mathematics, biology, chemics and other subjects must all develop in the independent Azerbaijan. Yet, each one of them has own characteristic framework. However, everybody needs to know history from childhood. We also need the history of our culture, literature and science".
All of these recommendations were accompanied by the decrees and enactments encouraging the development of Azerbaijani science and Heydar Aliyev adopted many important decisions regarding the progress of science in our country, maintenance of scientific-technical potential, training of and caring for the highly qualified cadres in the science and education field, as well as raising the authority of the men of science in the society. The Academy of Sciences received the status of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences by the Decree of the Azerbaijan Republic President dated 15 May 2001, thus confirming once again the achievements in the fundamental science development made by the Academy, its role in the cultural and moral formation of the Azerbaijani nation and that the academic science is the main provider of a country's development.
The salaries of the AN Academy of Sciences and of all the Academy employees raised by several times by the decrees dated March 30, 2001 and July 1, 2002. In August 12, 2002 a historic decree was signed on the establishment of AN Academy of Sciences Nakhchivan Bureau and a conference dedicated to the creation of this department was held at the meeting hall of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly under the great leader's chairmanship.
The national leader's decree dated January 4, 2003 concerning the status and Charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as well as approvement of the NAS President is also of a particular importance in the Azerbaijani science. This step of the eminent leader provided extensive opportunities for implementation of
substantial reforms in the system of the National Academy of Sciences, upgrading and conformation with international standards of the technical supply, acquisition of the most progressive experiences of the world countries in the field of science, raising the quality index of activities at scientific research institutes and centers, as well as directing the scientific community's attention towards the problems that are of particular topicality for the public life.
Several measures have recently been taken by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Presidium covering the implementation of reforms at the Academy, improvement of its managerial and organizational system, specification of the scientific research direction, upgrade of the cadres training, increasing the responsibility of research workers and effectiveness of the work of scientific and scientific service institutions in order to fulfill the tasks charged by Heydar Aliyev at that time. The Conception of Strategic Development of Science and Reforms at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences has been worked out, approved at the Academy's general meeting and gradually implemented.
In the boundless creative activity of Heydar Aliyev, the issues of linguistics, firstly the native language, as well as the vital socio-linguistic issues, including language and the state, language and culture, language and nation, language and history, language and literature and language building also enjoyed a particular place. Like all the great political figures, Heydar Aliyev also paid a special attention to improvement of the economy and financial welfare of own nation and country along with its general cultural progress and raising the country, where he lives and the nation, to which he belongs, to the level of the world's most advanced countries and nations. The distniguished statesman Heydar Aliyev's immense care, devotion and deep love for the native language derived not only from his senses of true citizenship, love to and higher pride for his own native language. This sourced also from his ability and gift of knowing perfectly his native language, deeply conceiving the language's internal secrets and beauties, as well as applying them proficiently. Paying a due regard to establishment and development of Azerbaijani language as the national language, the national leader Heydar Aliyev signed a decree On the Improvement of Activities Aiming At Application of the National Language in June 18, 2001. The Decree indicates precise implementation periods for the tasks relating to the historic path of development of the Azerbaijani language, developmental stages of our literary language, as well as application of our language, which is the most important means of communication in the independent Azerbaijan Republic.
At the mentioned period, the ANAS Presidium made a decision regarding the Decree's implementation. The decision underlines the Decree's exceptional value in the development of our national language and covers several measures targeting at the application of national language and Latin script at the Academy. Most of these measures have already been carried out. The Presidium's meeting dated August 22,
2001 discussed comprehensively Heydar Aliyev's Decree On Establishment of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and the Day of Azerbaijani Language, as well as his Decree dated August 13, 2001. The Presidium made a decision concerning the enforcement of the plan of measures deriving from the head of country's decree and statement at the Academy's scientific institutions and organizations, and an appeal to the President was adopted.
The national leader's return also marked the growth of social status of the men of science and teachers, who dedicate all their lives to the enlightening of younger generation. The public authority of the scientist and/or teacher title, which has been historically considered the most honorable public status of the society, was again restored.
The main subject of education and most active stratum of society, the Azerbaijani youth was also salved from numerous problems with the return of the great leader. Nobody has forgotten the disorderly and scattered crowd, into which the Azerbaijani youth was transformed owing to the known events of 1988-1993. The forces dragging Azerbaijan towards the crises for the sake of own ambitions firstly used our youth as a means for execution of their intentions and spoiled the country's future.
In 1991-1993, numerous youth organizations appeared in Azerbaijan under different names. The tendencies of politicization and populism displayed in majority of these organizations, which emerged in conditions of the then anarchy in the country. Unfortunately, most of these organizations fell under influence of the political parties and institutions of different trends active at that time. However, such cases were ceased after the meeting of the savior of Azerbaijani nation, Heydar Aliyev with the youth at the National Assembly at the period right after his return. Under such circumstances, protection of Azerbaijan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the successful implementation of legal and democratic state building in the country suggested the necessity of mobilizing the youth not on the grounds of different political parties' and organizations' interests, but the interests of a national state and working out the common youth policy. This policy is being continued with a particular success also today.
Our national leader became the biggest supporter of Azerbaijani sport. Owing to the appropriate purposeful policy in this field, the sportsmen of Azerbaijan managed bright victories at international competitions.
In his speeches, the eminent leader drew the attention to the topicality of perfect education for the Azerbaijani youth: "... Our youth must receive education. Because, but for the higher education, our youth will not have the desired future". Heydar Aliyev also considered the issue of moral mentoring an essential priority standing before the Azerbaijani youth: "... One of the major issues concerning our youth is the moral mentoring. You know, the present financial difficulties, financial needs certainly lead to the emergence of different negative cases in the society. Nevertheless, our youth and our citizens should know
that the temporary difficulties of this period have to be stood, the moral mentoring has to be permanently present and our youth has to be mentored with higher morality spirit. The global values, as well as the national-moral values of the Azerbaijani nation ought to be assumed by every single young man. If there is no morality, there can be nothing good. Even if one has huge wealth, countless money, infinite riches, there can be nothing good if there is no morality. Higher morality has been present at all stages and in the past centuries, which mark the essence of our national history. The thing which today makes the personalities we know from our past history famous all over the world and raises them to the level of sample and honor for us is their higher morality and higher objectives. Therefore, today we need the moral mentoring maybe much more than in the previous years. Our youth should be brought up in the national spirit and on the grounds of our national-moral values. Our youth has to know perfectly our history, our past, our language and our national values. The youth lacking a good knowledge of our national values, national traditions and history can not be patriotic, either."
The national leader ensured all kinds of opportunities for the youth to receive education abroad in order to see them literate, educated and intelligent. Heydar Aliyev's call for supporting the construction, repair and supply of the schools at the XI Convention of Azerbaijani teachers caused a huge echo and revival in the society. Exactly after the appeal, foreign organizations and embassies in the country also started promoting the schools construction. The local entrepeneurs and rich Azerbaijanis living abroad also joined this appeal of Heydar Aliyev. New schools were built in our country, the existing shools were repaired and logistical supply of the higher education institutions was improved. Owing to the care rendered by the national leader, a period of strong development tendencies, innovation and novelties commenced in the education system. The budget allocations for the education sector grew from year to year.
Azerbaijani pupils received the greatest humanism and care also from the national leader Heydar Aliyev. A special decree was signed by his instruction concerning the stage-by-stage implementation of supplying the pupils of general education schools, which cover 20 percent of the country's population, with textbooks from the state budget. Besides, the State Program of Poverty Reduction and Economic development approved by the special decree issued by Heydar Aliyev intends a gradual passage to the free supply of also the textbooks for the X-XI classes of the general education schools since 2003, which became a reality since 2005.
The students gathering the highest points from the higher school entrance tests every year also enjoyed the national leader Heydar Aliyev' s particular attention. He instituted special Presidential scholarships for those students, as well as honorary scholarships and the Golden Book for the gifted youth.
The living conditions of and social care for Azerbaijani teachers were also among the issues the national leader kept in his permanent focus of attention.
He always said teachers are the carriers of a higher and holy profession and called the society to be constantly respectful towards them. At the same time, he called the Azerbaijani teacher to be faithful to their holy profession and protect its nobility. It is a result of the national leader's particular attention and care to the education that today the number of patriotic youth in our country with modern outlooks and higher education has largely increased. Certainly, these youth represent the future of the stable and powerful Azerbaijan, the masterpiece of Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev expressed his deep belief in our youth from the standpoint of the future of independent Azerbaijani state like this: "... I am sure that young generations capable of maintaining the future of Azerbaijan are being brought up. Therefore, we - representatives of the older generation are confident that you, dear youth, will conceive how difficult it was to create the independent Azerbaijan Republic and protect its future. I am sure of this."
At the forums of Azerbaijani youth, the national leader called the youth to a deeper investigation of the country's successes and problems: "We assess the successes we have achieved, and are well aware of the problems still unsolved. The youth should know these - both the achievements, and the unsolved problems. The youth should know everything. We are now living in an independent state in conditions of pluralism and development of democracy implementing the legal, democratic and secular state building. Therefore, every citizen of Azerbaijan has to know the processes ongoing in the country's life and they have to take an active part in these processes. The tasks confronted by the youth include primarily taking one's position in the society, being enlightened, expanding their education and being useful for the society".
The youth policy currently pursued in our country covers a system of measures implemented by the state with the purpose of providing the comprehensive development of the youth and their active participation in the life of society. This policy covers a quite borad
spectrum - the issues linked with education, mentoring, health, intellectual and moral development of the youth, organization of their spare time and active participation in all fields of life.
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