The “Azerbaijani Culture - 2040” Culture Concept, approved by President Ilham Aliyev, envisages the integration of culture into education, including the teaching of subjects and knowledge related to cultural fields and Azerbaijan's cultural values, during the years 2026-2030.
It is interesting to consider what the name of this subject might be? Which teachers, having completed which specialization, can teach this subject? In general, in which grades should this subject be taught?
Modern.az reports that Gunay Akbarova, Secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education, spoke to AzEdu.az on this topic.
She noted that this is a living mechanism that shapes the worldview of future generations:
"To correctly understand the essence of this Concept, it is first necessary to pay attention to the long-term perspective on culture and national values formed by Mr. President Ilham Aliyev. The President has repeatedly emphasized in his speeches that culture is one of the main pillars sustaining the identity of every nation, and the continuity of statehood traditions is built precisely upon these spiritual pillars. According to his approach, national culture is not merely a heritage to be preserved, but also a living mechanism that shapes the worldview of future generations.
From this perspective, the “Azerbaijani Culture - 2040” Culture Concept is not merely a strategic document for the cultural sector, but also a fundamental roadmap that builds a bridge between education, public thought, and national identity. Particularly, the idea of integrating culture into education, envisioned for the years 2026-2030, can be assessed as a practical manifestation of the President's “a society rooted in national values while also possessing modern thinking” model".
This step aims to transition the younger generation into history, literature, and art:
"As Mr. President has repeatedly noted, young people must deeply understand their national roots, while also being able to compete in the global world without losing their identity. It is precisely for this reason that the systematic integration of culture into the school environment is not accidental. This step aims to elevate the younger generation's relationship with history, literature, art, and national-moral values from the level of formal knowledge to a stage of internal assimilation and conscious understanding.
At the same time, this Concept is also an indicator of the President's view of culture not merely as capital-centric, but as a nationwide value encompassing regions, local heritage, folk creativity, and multifaceted cultural diversity. The inclusion of culture in the educational sphere can ensure that children growing up in the regions approach their environment, local customs and traditions, and historical memory more consciously.
In this sense, the implementation of the new subject envisioned in the Concept is a logical continuation of the President's valuation of culture as strategic capital passed on to the future, and I believe that this approach will make a significant contribution to the deeper, more identity-oriented, and more sustainable development of Azerbaijani education in terms of content".
