Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of school No 18 in the Yasamal district of Baku after reconstruction on “Knowledge Day”

A new school year began in our country on 15 September. On “Knowledge Day” secondary and higher educational institutions opened their doors to pupils and students. Many newly-built and fully repaired schools were commissioned this year. One of such schools is school No 18 named after Mikail Mushfig in the Yasamal district of Baku.

“Knowledge Day” was particularly significant for teachers and students of the school.

On 15 September, President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the school.

The school’s teachers, pupils and their parents warmly welcomed the head of state.

Congratulating the teachers and pupils on the new school year, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Good morning. My warm greetings to you and congratulations on the start of a new school year.

In the new school year you will go to this renovated school. This school has a great history. But, as you know, the state of the school was not good enough, it need renovating. The instruction was given to renovate it at the highest level. Both in terms of its appearance and interior design, this school is one of the most beautiful schools in our city. All the conditions are available and I will review them now. I was regularly informed about the construction and repair work.

I am very pleased that a beautiful school is opening its doors in Baku. There are perfect conditions for learning and working here, parents will be happy too. In short, we strive to ensure that all schools in our city and country are at this level. In recent years we have achieved this.

Last year alone over 60 schools were renovated in Baku. This year, 81 schools are being renovated, new buildings and schools are under construction. By the end of next year, the problem of schools in Baku will be fully resolved. Next year we will repair 120 schools. Thus, Baku will not have a single unsuitable or unsafe school.

This is really a great achievement. The vast majority of schools in Baku were built many years ago and needed renovating. We are bringing all the schools to good condition.

On a par with that, we are building schools in other regions. In recent years we have built and repaired over 2,200 schools. This process continues, and we will strive to ensure that most schools are repaired by the end of next year.

Thus, we will successfully complete the reconstruction of schooling infrastructure. As for the level of teaching at schools, this depends on the teachers. Children also need to study well. And teachers should adequately fulfill their duties, train qualified and competent professionals for Azerbaijani society. Our children must be educated and literate. In today's world, the level of knowledge determines the success of any person and country. We live in the 21st century world. The 21st century is a century of high technologies. In this century, countries aspiring to knowledge, education and innovation will secure their interests. Modern technologies have undergone such development that was unimaginable 10 or 20 years ago.

We have also chosen the path of development. We are developing in all areas and need to develop the field of technology. The power of society is determined by its people. Of course, every country has natural resources and geographical advantages. But in the end it all depends on the people. You can have a lot of oil and gas. But it will make no difference if you have no professionals. Therefore, in order to find a place in the modern world and benefit the country, children have to study well. Children often hear these words, which is natural. But these words have a great sense.

Being a good student means that you can achieve anything in life. The situation in Azerbaijan is such that the success of each individual is in his hands. Azerbaijan has freedom, market economy principles, and the fate of everyone is in his hands. So knowledge is necessary, first of all, for you and also for the people and state. Azerbaijani youth will run our country in the future. The future development of our country will depend on you. Therefore, knowledge, as well as attachment to the motherland, love of the country must be on a high level.

I hope that all our schools will always keep the theme of patriotism on the agenda. Affection and love of the country, professionalism and good knowledge will lead our country forward.

We will strive to create better conditions for our youth, promote our youth. Youth is an active component of our society.

Youth protects our borders, youth wins victories in sports arenas, young people are our future. One can only study well at such a beautiful school. Teachers will also have good conditions here. Teachers train young professionals for our society. Teachers have a great responsibility, they bring great benefit to our society. The teaching profession is very honorable. First of all, a school teacher cares about each child, teaches him the right way. Teachers and parents share responsibility. Taking this opportunity, I salute all the teachers on the occasion of the new academic year and wish them every success and good health.

I congratulate you again and wish you happiness.

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Expressing his gratitude to the President for the reconstruction of this educational institution, principal Vagif Huseynli said:

- Mr. President, please allow me to welcome you on behalf of our team – the pupils and teachers of school No 18 named after Mikail Mushfig.

Our school was renovated on your order. A sixth floor has been attached to our main building. A magnificent gym has been built in front of the school. The material and technical infrastructure of the school has improved, the number of classrooms increased, new classrooms and laboratories fitted with modern equipment established. Most importantly, we have a long-awaited assembly hall. We have a new canteen. We have a large library with a reading room. We are very grateful to you for all this.

Mr. President, we always feel your attention to education. In your remarks you mentioned the number of schools built in the regions and in Baku. This is the result of your titanic work.

We express our appreciation to the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. We express our gratitude to you again.

I want to mention one thing. 1 September 1997 is a very significant day in the history of our school. On this day great leader Heydar Aliyev visited our school. The great leader delivered a speech and gave recommendations to all the teachers of our country in relation to the attributes. Over the years we have taken into account the recommendations of the great leader. We will also take into account your recommendations. We will try to justify your confidence by our work.
Mr. President, we have a hard-working and talented team. I want to say that the level of technical equipment of our school is very high. Now our school has 110 computers, eight laptops, 15 smart boards, 15 computer boards. We will extensively use technological tools in education.

We are very grateful to you. We wholeheartedly approve your foreign and domestic policies.

We express our appreciation to you again. We are with you. Thank you!

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Then a picture was taken.

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During familiarization with the school, the head of state was informed that the building was constructed in 1966 and had not been renovated since then. According to the order of President Ilham Aliyev, an additional three-storey building was constructed during the reconstruction work in 2012. A gym equipped with modern facilities has been built. In addition, another floor was attached to the five-storey building. The sixth floor of the building houses an assembly hall for 168 people, a canteen, a library and a modern reading room.

The school’s Heydar Aliyev Museum has a collection of various books, documents and photographs related to the life and political activities of the great leader. Of particular interest are the pictures taken during the celebration of the “Knowledge Day” in 1997, which was joined by nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev.

While reviewing the classrooms, President Ilham Aliyev was informed that the school has 59 rooms, including 41 classrooms. In addition, there is a language laboratory, classrooms in computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, art, Azerbaijani, Russian and German languages – all meeting modern standards. All the classrooms equipped with electronic and smart boards can conduct classes at a high level.

When examining the teachers’ room, the President was informed that it is possible to conduct video conferences with any school in Baku from here.

A video conference with school No 6 of the capital was conducted with the participation of the President. Expressing her gratitude to the President for the attention and care about education, principal of school No 6 Gulshan Orujova said:

- Hello, Mr. President, we send you our greetings on behalf of your native school. We would like to express our appreciation to you for your care and attention. We worked hard last year too in order to justify your trust. I believe that we will delight you with good performance in the new year too. We wish you every success.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. My greetings to you too. Please convey my greetings to all the pupils. Last year we met to celebrate the opening of school No. 6 after reconstruction, but it was actually rebuilt. I am here today. Each year we build and repair schools. But after 2013 this program will be completed. Because after that there will be no schools without renovation in Baku.

Gulshan Orujova: We thank you on behalf of all education workers. Thank you very much, Pr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Good bye.

The school’s canteen also meets modern standards. It has are all conditions for normal nutrition of pupils. This year, 230 pupils will go to the first grade. A staff 157 teachers provides education to a total of 1,700 pupils at the school.

The school’s biology classroom has Azerbaijan’s first 3D-stereo board, which allows the school to conduct classes at a high level.

President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the gym established at the new building of the school. Here, pupils can engage in sports such as indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball.

After reviewing the school, the President praised the work carried out.

Then, President Ilham Aliyev visited the sports center “Judo-2012” in the vicinity of the school which was put into operation this year. Athletes over the age of 30 years train here. The center has all conditions. The three-storey building has three training halls. Currently, about 500 athletes train here.