After the attestation exam for music teachers, 233 teachers of various specializations who could not successfully complete this stage were involved in training. 118 of them participated in the exam, and as a result, only 20 teachers showed a positive result and were reinstated in their jobs.
Speaking to Modern.az on the matter, MP and member of the Science and Education Committee Elnara Akimova stated that the experience of Baku and Sumgayit should serve as a very serious lesson for teachers in other regions:
“Regarding the forecasts for the attestation of music teachers in the regions in 2026, I want to say that the experience of Baku and Sumgayit should be a very serious lesson here. It was precisely in those cities that hundreds of teachers failed attestation and lost their jobs due to their insufficient responsible and serious approach to this process. This fact showed that attestation is not a formal procedure, but a mechanism that measures real knowledge and professional readiness.”
“In this regard, I hope that music teachers operating in all regions, from Gazakh–Tovuz to Karabakh and Nakhchivan, will correctly evaluate this process in a timely manner and prepare seriously for attestation. The relatively stronger practical skills of teachers in the regions are a positive factor, but theoretical knowledge and methodological approach also play a decisive role. If teachers draw the right conclusions from the results experienced in Baku and Sumgayit, I believe that the indicators for the regions could be more satisfactory, and attestation would serve as a real opportunity for their professional development,” she noted.
However, education expert Ramin Nuraliyev, commenting on the issue to Modern.az, stated that the participation of half of those involved in training in the exam is a negative situation:
“It is a bitter reality that half of the teachers involved in the exam participated in the training, and only 20 out of 118 participants in the exam were reinstated in their jobs. That is, only one-sixth of the 118 people involved in the exam after special training achieved a positive result and were employed. This indicator is seriously thought-provoking. Let's consider that these are teachers, individuals engaged in pedagogical activity in their field, in their specialization.”
The expert stated that only teachers with at least one year of work experience are admitted to the attestation commission. This means that these teachers have been engaged in pedagogical activity for more than a year, failed attestation, and were also involved in training. But despite all this, they still could not successfully pass the attestation.
If a teacher knows their field less than 50 percent, they should not face students:
“We observed a similar situation in certification exams. We particularly noted that the situation was more severe among primary school teachers. Thousands of teachers taught in their specialization and engaged in pedagogical activity for years but failed to pass certification. This is also extremely thought-provoking.
It is unacceptable for a teacher to have taught in their specialization in a general secondary school for years but score below 50 percent in the certification exam. This is not befitting the teaching profession. If a teacher knows their field at a level below 50 percent, they should not face students. We saw the same scenario in the certification process. The Ministry of Science and Education gave teachers a one-year grace period. They said, if you scored below 50 percent in certification, perhaps you were ill, or experienced a problem, go prepare for a year, and retake the exam. However, there were also teachers who prepared for a year and still showed the same result. Unfortunately, this situation is repeating here as well.”
According to him, whether teachers or those working in other fields, every professional must know their field perfectly.
“We are now in the era of artificial intelligence and high technologies. This era is also a stage where redundancies are inevitable. Every teacher, every specialist must realize this and work on themselves to remain in the labor market.”
The bitter picture emerging today regarding music teachers shows that teachers must approach their profession more seriously:
“One of the main reasons for the formation of these problems is the lack of systematic activity for many years in the direction of teacher development. A teacher was hired and thought they would work in that school until the end of their life. This comfort eventually led to laziness. We clearly see its results today in both certification and attestation processes.
This means that both the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Culture must now take the issue of teacher development seriously. Continuous and targeted measures must be taken for the professional development of personnel.
In particular, the role of methodologists and heads of methodological associations should be increased. Their main task is to support the development of teachers under their supervision, to convey innovations to them in a timely manner, and to prepare and present modern methodological materials. But unfortunately, the necessary professionalism is not demonstrated in this area either,” he concluded.
Also, approximately 8,000 teachers will undergo attestation this year, including teachers operating in Gazakh - Tovuz, Ganja - Dashkasan, Shaki - Zagatala, Mountainous Shirvan, Central Aran, Lankaran - Astara, Eastern Zangazur, Karabakh, and Nakhchivan.
