Mehriban Aliyeva: "Education is a priority of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation"

The major aim of the program is to assist in the modernization of the educational system, create new educational complexes and good conditions for study in all regions of the country.

The "New schools for new Azerbaijan" program, run by the Foundation since 2005, has made a big stir in the society, Mrs. Aliyeva said. A number of state bodies, international and private organizations have expressed their will to assist the program following appeal by the Foundation to the society.

132 new schools have been build and provided with modern school equipment within the frames of the first stage of the project. "Construction of these schools was the large success for our society," Mrs. Aliyeva stressed.

She also mentioned about the valuable experience acquired during the implementation of the first stage of the program. "It will help to avoid mistakes and demerits of the first stage," she assured.

"The program's second phase plans construction of 100 more new schools, mostly in outskirts Baku, in Absheron and in remote rural areas," the Foundation's President said.

The Azerbaijani Education Minister, Misir Mardanov has put a special emphasis on the realization of the given program in the country. 70% of all schools build in the country last year have been constructed by the Foundation. New and renovated buildings were added to schools, which had not been repaired for decades. "This all proves the care and attention that the Foundation pays to the upgrade of the education," he underlined.

The Azerbaijan Vice Prime Minister, Abid Sharifov, promised to cooperate in the implementation of the program, adding that all projects of new schools will be prepared and submitted to the Education Ministry.

The head of the Baku office of UNICEF, Hannah Singer, attributed the program's second stage as a significant event for the Azerbaijani society.

Ambassadors of the foreign countries attended the event, Trend reports.