Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan celebrates the beginning of the new academic year on September 15.

On the Day of Knowledge, President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva attended opening of the secondary school No. 124 in Shagan district of Baku.

The former building of the school, constructed in 1961, was in disrepair. The new school building for 1,560 students offers all the conditions for education at a high level.

The president congratulated the students and teachers with the beginning of the school year.

The head of state has also opened a number of education facilities in the capital city last week.

The president and his wife attended the opening ceremony of the French Lyceum of Baku.

The lyceum designed for hosting 320 students is located on the territory of the White City. The lyceum was built in a modern architectural style. It occupies a total area of 14,000 sq.m.

The lyceum will offer pre-school and elementary education. There will also be college and lyceum groups. One hundred students will receive education at the lyceum this academic year.

The agreement on the establishment of the French Lyceum of Baku was signed in ceremony back in October 2011 during the visit of France's former President Nicolas Sarkozy to Azerbaijan.

The lyceum, whose establishment was supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, will create ample opportunities for French-speaker foreigners temporarily or permanently residing in Azerbaijan and for Azerbaijani citizens to receive education in French. Teaching here will be based on a classic French 12-year secondary education plan, which also includes kindergarten.

All teaching will be conducted in French in accordance with the French national education system. The certificates to be given to lyceum graduates will be recognized by the French Ministry of National Education. Graduates will have an opportunity to continue their education in any university in France.

French President Francois Hollande made a tour of the lyceum which was still under construction when he was on an official visit to Azerbaijan this May.

President Aliyev also attended the opening ceremony of a new building of secondary school No. 84 in Amirjan settlement of Surakhani district in Baku.

Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalibov informed the head of state about the works done. The school, which was constructed in 1920, initially functioned as a hospital.

The outdated facility was pulled down in 2012, and a three-storey building, which meets the highest standards, was constructed in its place. The 1224-seat school has 48 classrooms.

The head of state also made a tour of the school. All classrooms and departments have been repaired in line with modern standards. The school was supplied with necessary equipment and modern teaching aids. The necessary equipment was installed in laboratories to enable pupils to apply their theoretical knowledge.

The auditorium of the school is well-suited for hosting various events. A military training room has been also created here with the aim of improving pupils' military readiness and boosting their patriotic spirit.

Landscaping and redevelopment have been carried out in the yard of the school. The school has also outdoor football, basketball and volleyball grounds.

Secondary schools are revamped to the highest standards and supplied with necessary equipment in Baku as in all parts of the country ahead of the new academic year.

The head of state also made a tour of school-lyceum No. 72 and secondary school No. 80 in Sabunchu district of Baku.

President Aliyev first reviewed school-lyceum No. 72 after its major repair and reconstruction.

The two-storey facility was built in 1930. It functioned as a women's gymnasium for several years. The school's second block was built in 1989, while the third one in 2007.

Major repair and reconstruction works were carried out at the school this year. Some 1,235 students receive education at the facility, which has 45 classrooms. All classrooms and departments have been reconstructed to the highest standards.

The president then visited the additional block of secondary school No. 80 after major repair and reconstruction.

The three-storey 480-seat block was remodeled this year. It has 23 classrooms. The construction work was carried out in line with the highest standards.

It was noted that the school was fitted with necessary equipment and teaching aids. Landscaping work was carried out and green areas were created in the area adjacent to the school.

The president has also opened a new building of secondary school No. 182 in Binagadi district of Baku.

Mayor Abutalibov said the previous building of the school was constructed in 1962. The 800-seat school had 31 classrooms. The outdated facility was pulled down and replaced with a three-storey modern building, which has 65 classrooms.

The modern facility will open doors to students in the new academic year. The 1300-seat school has 10 departments.

In the past few years, several state-of-the-art schools have been built and new blocks for educational facilities constructed in both the capital and the country's regions.

Important works have been carried out to strengthen material and technical infrastructure of schools in Azerbaijan.