Discussions continue in Azerbaijan regarding the licensing of private tutoring activities. Education experts believe that tutoring has now become a broad field of activity covering almost all levels of education, not just the stage of preparation for higher education. For this reason, it is stated that there is a need for more serious regulation of this area in order to evaluate both the quality of service and the professional skills of teachers.
Education expert Elmin Nuri, who spoke to Modern.az on the issue, stated that there is a very serious need for licensing tutoring activities in Azerbaijan:
“I would say that we are late in this matter. Tutoring as a service exists all over the world, and when we look at the history of education, we see that it goes back to ancient times. But in order to prevent tutoring that crosses its red line and destroys the professional teaching environment and the main mission of education, it is absolutely necessary to switch to these and similar rules.”
The expert noted that licensing the activities of individuals providing tutoring services individually is important both from a legal point of view and from the point of view of evaluating professional skills:
“Licensing the activities of individuals providing tutoring services individually will create conditions for checking both the legal aspect and their professional skills and knowledge within the framework of their subjects.”
Elmin Nuri stated that tutoring activities have reached a level that affects the main mission of the school:
“Imagine, tutoring has not only remained as a temporary service area, a preparation mechanism for university preparation, but has already paralyzed the prestige and usefulness of the school throughout the 11-year education period. I would say that this process starts from primary school and continues until the student graduates.”
According to him, in some cases, teachers prioritize additional preparation activities over the main teaching process:
“Today, cases where primary school teachers' love for tutoring, building the teaching process almost exclusively on this, and presenting their tutoring activity to the student as their only salvation motive are rampant. Of course, there are many teachers who carry out their work at a high level and do their best for the students in their class. We must definitely distinguish the good ones. But what percentage of the good ones are the others? That's the question.”
The expert emphasized that some teachers differentiating between students who come for additional preparation and other students negatively affects the psychology of children:
“Why should any teacher today convince a parent that a child must enroll in additional preparation, otherwise their work will go bad? Why should a teacher show warmer attitudes towards students who come to them for preparation, and create a feeling of coldness in other children? These are problems that have existed for years.”
Elmin Nuri noted that individuals engaged in tutoring activities must be both active taxpayers and confirm their knowledge and skills:
“Today, those very tutors must undergo licensing and be active taxpayers. But that's not all. The main issue here is checking their knowledge and skills. Since the parent is already paying the money, then they should pay a teacher who obtains this license after special tests and differs from their colleagues in terms of knowledge and professional skills.”
According to the expert, this approach will create a healthier competitive environment among tutors:
“At that time, serious competition among tutors will also be on an intellectual level. This will give a serious impetus to the formation of students and their better preparation.”
He added that curriculum knowledge of teachers should also be one of the main criteria in the licensing process:
“The extent to which the teacher is familiar with the curriculum requirements, content line, and application modules of their subject should be specially evaluated. The mission of the school should also be included in the prism of the tutor's activity. The tutor should ensure that the student does not deviate from the values of thought and imagination that the school should transmit to them.”
The expert stated that it is important to form unified standards in this direction:
“Whoever wants to tutor should take an exam in this direction, get a license, and continue their service. Then we will all win, and not just in a material sense.”
