Mr. President Ilham Aliyev's recent interview with local television channels once again demonstrated that the protection of national identity, language, and moral values lies at the heart of state policy. Drawing attention to the danger of new generations of Azerbaijanis living abroad forgetting their mother tongue, the President explicitly stated that this issue now holds strategic importance. His remarks regarding “all Azerbaijanis speaking Azerbaijani, like us” are, in fact, a call for strengthening national unity, cultural continuity, and the linguistic bridge between the diaspora and the homeland.
It is precisely in this context that the main question arises: what steps should be taken, what priorities should be defined, and in what form should this initiative be most effectively implemented for the establishment of online Azerbaijani language schools in all geographies where Azerbaijanis reside.
Clarifying these questions in a statement to Modern.az, Gunay Akbarova, Secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education, noted that this issue is a very sensitive and, at the same time, strategically important topic.
“As Mr. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, the preservation of the mother tongue is not merely a language issue; it is a matter of preserving national identity, cultural memory, and spiritual connection. The alienation of third and fourth-generation children of Azerbaijanis living abroad from their mother tongue is already a global reality, and this necessitates taking timely and correct steps.
For the establishment of online Azerbaijani language schools in all places where Azerbaijanis reside, a unified concept and state approach must first be formulated. These schools should be structured not merely as online lesson platforms, but as a mechanism providing systematic, continuous, and high-quality education. Programs tailored to age categories, modular lessons according to language levels, as well as interactive, game-based content for children, are of particular importance here. There are countries in world practice that successfully implement this, and the main point is that language instruction should be presented in an interesting and engaging manner, not as a compulsory one.”
She also added that, as the President noted, the goal is not only to teach the language but to raise a generation that “speaks like us,” thinks, and feels:
“For this, culture, history, folklore, and national values must also be integrated into the educational process in parallel. That is, an online Azerbaijani language school should not just be a language lesson, but also a school of national identity.
For this process to be realized, teaching standards, teacher training, and technological infrastructure must first be regulated. It is crucial for teachers who will work with children living abroad to be professionally competent, understand the realities of the diaspora, and be psychologically and methodologically prepared. In the modern era, the success of such projects directly depends on the teacher's approach and digital skills.”
Gunay Akbarova added that another important issue is the consent of the countries:
“Since this is not about opening a school in the classical sense, meaning the process will be carried out entirely through online platforms, no serious legal obstacles arise. Most countries view online mother tongue instruction positively and accept it as a cultural right. The main issue is the correct presentation of this initiative as having a cultural and educational essence, rather than a political one. In this regard, the support of diaspora organizations, embassies, and cultural centers can play a special role.
I believe that coordinated cooperation among state institutions, diaspora organizations, and civil society institutions is crucial in this direction. This is not a task that a single institution can accomplish. However, with proper planning and a consistent approach, this idea can yield real and effective results in a short period.”
In conclusion, our interlocutor brought to attention that Mr. President's sensitive approach to this topic indicates that the preservation of our mother tongue is one of the priority directions of state policy:
“Our responsibility is to correctly interpret this call, implement it in accordance with the demands of the modern era, and preserve every Azerbaijani child's connection to their mother tongue, regardless of where they live in the world,” G. Akbarova noted.
