Azerbaijan

Reading Instruction in the Primary Grades

Instructional Materials

According to the Education Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan of 2009, one of the main duties of the Azerbaijani government is to prepare, publish, and disseminate textbooks and other instructional materials. Hence, the Ministry of Education provides all textbooks free of charge at all general education levels including the primary grades. Currently in the primary grades there is no separate reading textbook, but reading is instructed as part of the language curriculum.

Use of Technology

Enhancing the usage of computer technologies is one of the highlighted areas in the State Strategy on Education Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which was adopted in 2013. Article 7 of the strategy aims to create instructional materials based on new curriculum and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Because some schools have been provided with computers and others have not, one of the main goals of the strategy is to fill this gap as soon as possible.

Role of Reading Specialists

There are no separate reading specialists in primary schools to assist students. Language teachers are responsible for handling all issues related to reading.

Second Language Instruction

Starting in the first grade of primary education, second language instruction is provided in all schools in Azerbaijan. This language is English in almost all schools, but French is taught in schools in which the language of instruction is English. In schools where both Russian and English are taught, more than one foreign language may be taught. Students whose language of heritage is not Azerbaijani learn the language along with instruction in their native language.