Azerbaijan kicks off new school year with over 132,000 first graders

The September 16 marks the beginning of the new school year in Azerbaijan, with 132,261 children enrolling in first grade across the country, and 89,000 children joining school preparation programs.

A total of 513,698 students will be studying in the general education institutions under the Baku City Education Department (BCED). Among them, 46,098 will be attending first grade, 44,233 will be in ninth grade, 35,757 in tenth grade, 32,260 in eleventh grade, and 156 in twelfth grade, Caliber.Az reports.

In BCED-affiliated preschool education institutions, 45,201 children have been enrolled, while 29,216 five-year-old children have been admitted to school preparation groups in general education institutions.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, 29,400 teachers will work in BCED-affiliated general education institutions, and 4,830 teacher-caregivers will be employed in preschool education institutions.

BCED oversees 698 educational institutions, including 342 preschools, 327 general education schools, 3 specialized general secondary schools, 5 full-time and part-time evening schools, 12 boarding-type institutions, and 9 out-of-school institutions.

The major renovation, reconstruction, and construction of educational institutions, along with equipping them with essential learning tools, are key initiatives in our country aimed at cultivating a more knowledgeable and well-educated younger generation. In the territories liberated from occupation, the building and renovation of schools continue under the first State Program of the Great Return.

In the new academic year, the educational process will resume in Shusha, Khankendi, and Khojaly, marking a significant milestone in the revitalization of these regions.

The 2024-2025 school year has officially begun across Azerbaijan, with the first lesson in general education institutions centered around the theme "Solidarity for a Green World." This initiative emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness and global unity among students.

This year also brings a historic development in higher education. For the first time, Karabakh University and the Turkish-Azerbaijani University will welcome students, symbolizing a new chapter in academic opportunities and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.