Unfortunately, despite the fact that classes are less than two months away, the authorities have not yet made a serious statement. As we know, from March 3, 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, classes were suspended in all schools of our country. I must admit that in comparison with many countries of the world, despite our sudden approach to this problem, the efficiency in our country has been satisfactory. Because it was not expected, but operatively TV Lessons, the Virtual School project created in a short period of time, took our education out of the relative situation and ended the school year badly. However, an unknown situation still awaits us. Classes will be the same as before, or will go through a new system, there is no information about this. Both teachers and parents were sympathetic to the shortcomings of the past, but with so much time, it will be difficult to forgive the problems that will arise if we do not seriously prepare for the new school year. In many countries around the world, educational institutions have been working on options A, B and even C since May, offering certain packages to the public.
The current official situation shows that classes will be held in the traditional way, ie in the classrooms as before. Let's say this is "Option A" and we will do it with determination. The question is, were our people ready for this, will we accept it? Because it remains an undeniable fact that the threat will continue until the end of the year, and in this case, at least some parents will refuse to send their children to school. Their concerns are understandable. If this happens, what will happen if 30 percent of students do not come to school? Do we ever think? Then we will not be able to split up again and fly like birds with broken wings. Even if this happens, the Ministry of Education should already be raising awareness, preparing guidelines, training school leaders, preparing notebooks for parents and students, informing them regularly, and convincing parents that "we can love and protect your child as much as you can!" If there is no such trust, there will be serious problems and rumors will spread. Every little problem will be raised on social networks and education managers will be reprimanded, and teachers will be left behind.
As we know, school is not just a center of knowledge. School is a center of social life, family, friendship, humanity and citizenship. Sitting at home and experiencing psychological stress, being forced to exercise monotonously, is sometimes more dangerous than the virus. The consequences of a sedentary lifestyle are even greater, and today all our children suffer from it. Of course, it would be good if we could create conditions for him in schools and meet them properly. However, as I said above, a system must be established and planned for this. Perhaps, a different system can be established between Baku and our districts. Because the danger is more in Baku. For this purpose, it is possible to hold classes in some districts in a normal way, and in other cities and districts to go to the option of 3-day and class division.
Many countries plan to maintain the distance by holding classes of 10-15 people. I think we will have such an opportunity. In one-row schools, it is possible to reduce the number to a certain level by dividing the classes into two parts. All this, of course, are suggestions that are often discussed here on social networks as official information. There is a great need for a proposal from the Ministry of Education in the form of a package for public discussion on this option, which is considered "Option A." How is brotherly Turkey, neighboring Russia.
Let's go to "Option B." This is an open issue. Because if classes are planned to continue online and on TV, they must still be justified in advance and the public must be informed. Let's admit that in the past, some schools in our big cities built online classes on their own initiative and opportunities, but technical problems in rural and district schools did not allow it. The lack of computers at home and the problem of the Internet are clear evidence of this. We must also take into account that teachers do not necessarily have the ability to teach online. And TV lessons, I think, are just an auxiliary option, considering that most students are not able to learn the content from TV lessons. This option is useful to simply repeat the lessons, to gain additional knowledge. For this purpose, even if the lessons are taught through online programs, an official online curriculum should be developed, the duration of the lessons should be determined, and it should be emphasized which subjects will be required. Otherwise, if a teacher spends 20 minutes, a teacher 40 minutes, a teacher 4 hours a week, and a teacher 2 hours, there can be no question of a unified education system. Assess, demand, organize and manage online education Assessing, demanding, and organizing and managing online education is another and bigger challenge.
The biggest problem will be in the first, ninth and eleventh grades. Because the first ones are just starting the lesson, if there will be an online lesson, what will be taught to them and how? It is known that there are no internet resources in the Azerbaijani language for first graders. The upper classes will take the final and entrance exams, and they need serious preparation. Well, let's agree informally that 9, 10-11 already goes to courses and tutors, usually. After all, it must be official. Because the courses are officially paid by taxpayers and registered companies, they will not start classes without any official permission, and tutors play secretly, playing hide-and-seek with a thousand difficulties.
All this shows that a serious uncertainty awaits us, in an environment of serious chaos in September, if discussions and proposals do not begin soon. I hope and believe that the officials of the Ministry of Education are discussing this, and in the near future they will submit a package of proposals to the Operational Headquarters and a stable decision will be made and announced.
Knowing and anticipating what awaits us in the new school year, which is eagerly awaited by about 1,600,000 students and about 150,000 teachers, should be the most important task today. Even if we take into account the higher education institutions, this is almost the most important issue for the country to think about today!
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