"We are trying to compete with the world for the sake of Azerbaijan"
By Aynur Jafarova
Education is the future of the people, their guarantee of life,
future, power of the state, one of the key factors that makes us human
beings. Development of society is directly linked to the level of
children's education. AzerNews has interviewed Dr. Enver Ozeren, the
head of Chag Oyretim (Modern Education), a private Turkish company in
Baku, which is known for its long-standing experience in the field of
education, is making a contribution to the education system of
Azerbaijan and has attracted public attention to its achievements.
Q.: Enver bey, it is over 20 years of the activity of Chag. How would you describe 20 years of your work?
A.: The 20th anniversary of our company in Azerbaijan coincides with
the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The
company Chag started its activities under its motto "Education is the
future of the people". When we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our
business, we said "15 years of loyalty to the trust." This year marks
the 20th anniversary of our partnership with the slogan "Modern
Education of Azerbaijan and Chag Oyretim". Over these 20 years, our
graduates have graduated top universities of Azerbaijan and the world.
Hundreds of people have been prepared adequately to represent Azerbaijan
in the country and beyond. Initially, 85-90 percent of teaching staff
were teachers who came from Turkey. Now, more than 80 percent of the
teaching staff is made up of graduates of Azerbaijani universities. In
Araz courses, this figure is 98 percent and in the University of the
Caucasus 86-87 percent. We tried to compete with the world for the sake
of Azerbaijan.
Q.: Chag participates not only in international competitions, but at
the same time provides an Olympiads in our country. How did the idea of
the international Olympiads in Azerbaijan?
A.: After Azerbaijan gained its independence, the first time our
school made the possibility of participating in the international
competition. In the first two years, we have participated in
international competitions as observers. And in 1994 year we represented
Azerbaijan at the Biology Olympiad, held in Varna, Bulgaria, which
together 45 countries
Our students came back with a victory to a country that has only
recently gained its independence. They brought two gold and two silver
medals. As a result, our experience of participation in the Olympiads
began to improve from year to year. The Azerbaijani students have been
victorious at many international competitions, bringing 529 medals, 104
of which are gold. This means that they successfully represent
Azerbaijan in the world.
Many years of participation at the Olympiads has earned a good
experience for both the teaching staff and for our students. We thought
that Azerbaijan is an oil country and decided that if we could organize
an environmental Olympiads, we will be able to attract the world's
attention on Azerbaijan. Based on our many years of experience of
participating in international competitions, we decided to hold one
international Olympiad in Azerbaijan. We indeed needed financial support
to implement such a project. Therefore, we met with the leadership of
the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). SOCAR has
expressed a positive opinion about this project and became our sponsor.
For the first time participants from 17 countries joined the Olympiad
INEP-Eurasia. In 2012 we held the sixth Olympiad with the participation
of 400 students from 42 countries. At the initiative of the Education
Ministry, other secondary schools of Azerbaijan also began to take part
in this competition. This year, 292 secondary schools of Azerbaijan
joined this project. And that makes us very happy.
Q.: Many people accept the fact that the quality of education in the
schools of your company is high enough. What is the secret of this
success?
A.: The secret of qualitative education, of course, is first of all
in the fact that this work should be done with love. Second, in the
process of education it is important to bring to the fore a sense of
charity and love, to treat students with warm feelings. There is a
phrase: "Share the fine. And there will be more beauty". Just like what
we have. Azerbaijan also has experience in the field of education. When
we combine these experiences, we achieve greater success.
The ever-increasing success and the National Leader's word, "I always
support you and I will always continue to support. You are doing
important things for the future of Azerbaijan", and President Ilham
Aliyev's words "expand the work done by you" and "you are doing
important work for the future of Azerbaijan", as well as approval of our
activities by the Azerbaijani people and government
officials requires us to be more responsible. As a result of all above, we succeed.
Q.; What would you advice to Azerbaijani schoolboy: how to build educational life?
A.: Azerbaijan's entry in the free market economy, and Mr.
President's words, "oil capital should be turned into human capital," as
well as attempts to develop the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan have put
forward a single fact to the fore: necessity for the development of
skilled, educated workforce, good in all world processes. It is not
enough to go to university to become a proficient. Our students need to
engage in self-development in their field. Young people who have chosen
University of Caucasus and their parents are well aware of the level of
education and a disciplined learning system of professors and teaching
staff. No matter where you put our graduates, they are regarded as
exemplary staff. In his speech at the event on the twentieth anniversary
of Chag, President of the Azersun Holding Abdulbari Bey said: "If one
day I will think about how to transfer the management of the company to
someone, it's sure to be a graduate of the University of the Caucasus."
This phrase is felt a call to Azerbaijani pupils and university
students.
Q.: As the director of Chag, what you want to see your alumni?
A.: Regardless of where our graduates are, we would like to see them
faithful to Azerbaijani nation, statehood and tied to their traditions
as individuals. Recently, one of our graduates of 1997 was our guest. He
said that he is working in Angola for BP company. I asked him how much
he paid for the year of study in high school. "$100," he answered. We
all know that in those days it was a paltry sum for the year of study.
Thanks to financial assistance of Azerbaijanis and Turks, the monetary
expenses are paid. Even now, there are certain discounts for young
students in our schools.
Q.: There is the famous triangle in education: the school-student-parent. What is the opinion of Chag on this triangle?
A.: Fruitful learning cannot be achieved unless one of the parties is
weak. Students spend half a day at school, and the other half at home.
Proper education, education of the child depends on proper coordination
between the school and the parent. In this respect, for the fruitful
training of a student, a parent in the home plays a role of the teacher
in the school.
Q.: There is an idea that whatever modern is a school building, the
education cannot efficient without normal relations between teachers and
pupils. Do you agree with this statement?
A.: If the relationship between teacher and student is not based on
mutual respect, love and sincerity, there cannot a quality education or
training. Teachers and students ought to have relationship when a
student without the embarrassment could come to the teacher and tell
about his/her difficulties and ask for help. The teacher should be happy
to student's success and empathize with his grief. We can talk about
upbringing and productive education if there is close and sincere
relationship between teachers and students.
Q.: Recently, Chag Oyretim held an event called "Modern Azerbaijan and Chag Oyretim - 20
years of loyalty to the trust" in Gulustan palace. Government
officials, especially the Minister of Education said many vivid words
about your work. It was noted that the Chag can bring Nobel Prize to
Azerbaijan. These words are a kind of record of your activities. What
plans and projects are awaiting for implementation?
A.: First of all, thank you for such pleasant words about us. These
words give us more responsibility. As for future plans, we will continue
to serve the trust faithfully. Specifically, our greatest desire is to
ensure all our schools with physical facilities: area, building and
equipment. But that is not enough. We try to make all the employees of
our school staff consisted of Azerbaijanis and soon we will reach this
goal.
In addition, our school has to become institution with international
status. This is the requirement of time. To date, the world is changing
so fast that we have to work very hard to keep up with these changes.
Until yesterday, we tried to learn something from the world. And now
thanks to these schools, the world is learning something from us and I
am sure that after a while the world turn to us to learn more - to bring
up model of a literate and moral man.
Since last times, Azerbaijan, being right, could not be heard by the
international community. But now, thanks to the efforts of Ilham Aliyev,
the follower of the National Leader, all activities of which aim to
develop Azerbaijan and ceaseless action of First Lady Mrs. Mehriban
Aliyeva, Azerbaijan is gradually becoming at the center of world
attention. On the one hand, Azerbaijan attracts the world's attention to
itself, but on the other hand, the world rediscovers Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan presents itself again for its culture, art, science,
philosophy, carpets, mugham, sports, a new look at the environment,
feeding the intercultural dialogue.
Azerbaijan, converting oil capital in human capital, namely with its
new schools, universities, the new model of a man, is being discovered
to the world and brings the world to Azerbaijan. For this purpose, one
should study a lot, read a lot, apply a lot in a word and work a lot. In
this case, Azerbaijan will be stronger. In the world that is moving
towards globalization, strong Azerbaijan becomes a guarantor of
stability in the region, and thanks to this aspect it becomes the center
of the world, peace and tolerance in the region. It is accomplishing by
a new man, a new generation. In this respect, it is our most honorable
duty, to participate in the great work of President Ilham Aliyev, and be
in the ranks of the builders of the new Azerbaijan.
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