The targeting of civilian infrastructure in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic by unmanned aerial vehicles reportedly launched from Iranian territory yesterday caused serious concern both at the national and international levels. One of the drones falling on the building of Nakhchivan International Airport, and another exploding near the full secondary school of Shakarabad village in Babek district, highlights the importance of paying attention to security issues.
In particular, against the backdrop of the incident, the issue of how student safety is ensured in general education institutions, the existence of evacuation plans during possible emergencies, and the adequacy of measures taken in this direction also becomes a subject of discussion.
In a statement to Modern.az on the topic, education expert Mazahir Mammadli recalled that Azerbaijan has lived in a state of war with Armenia for many years – for over 30 years.
"During this period, many of our schools were displaced from their homes, and students were relocated to cities and other regions. Unfortunately, although those problems have been resolved, the new tensions currently arising in the region – events occurring against the backdrop of relations between Iran, Israel, and the USA – do not bypass Azerbaijan. For example, we can mention yesterday's incident. The explosion of a drone near the Shakarabad village school in Nakhchivan created certain tension, and measures were taken for the evacuation of children. This issue was addressed at an official level by state institutions. The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the country's leadership demonstrated a strong stance regarding the incident".
He also clarified the issue of organizing work in general education schools during such tense situations:
"Regarding how work is organized in general education schools during such tense situations, it should be noted that Azerbaijan is a country that has already experienced such circumstances. During the 30-year conflict with Armenia, practices such as the periodic evacuation of schools, the placement of students in other schools, and the redirection of children from refugee and internally displaced families to other educational institutions have been established. However, how these processes are officially regulated is a separate matter. As you know, there are special instructions regarding emergency situations. The implementation of these instructions falls within the powers of both local and central executive bodies. In necessary cases, operational decisions are made to address the situation, and if needed, steps such as evacuation or the suspension of education for several days due to security reasons may be taken.
Azerbaijan currently has experience with such tense periods. For example, a similar situation was experienced during the pandemic. At that time, in emergency conditions, the Ministry of Science and Education, its relevant bodies, regional education departments, the Baku City Education Department, as well as the Ministry of Education of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, made coordinated decisions and took appropriate steps in response to the prevailing situation.
In this regard, when an emergency situation arises in a certain area, the local bodies and executive agencies of the Ministry of Science and Education can sometimes take prompt measures without waiting for a special decision from the Cabinet of Ministers".
M. Mammadli believes that in such cases, a part of the powers should be delegated more to local structures:
"In emergency situations, regional education departments and district education sectors should have the ability to make prompt decisions in conjunction with local executive bodies. Because sometimes waiting for a central decision at the moment an incident occurs can lead to a loss of time and result in more severe consequences.
Therefore, it would be appropriate to grant broader authority to regional education departments and district education sectors in emergency situations. In this case, they can immediately assess the situation and make prompt decisions in conjunction with local executive bodies. This, in turn, would contribute to the formation of a more correct and flexible management mechanism from a security perspective," he noted.
