Baku, September 29, 2025
Azerbaijan’s education system is preparing for sweeping reforms that range from entrepreneurship courses in schools to AI-powered digital tools, according to Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev.
Speaking at the INMerge innovation summit hosted by PASHA Holding in Baku, Amrullayev said teaching entrepreneurship at school level is possible but must be carefully designed.
“Creating a program or degree alone does not guarantee skilled graduates. Entrepreneurship should be nurtured through culture and upbringing, not just diplomas,” he noted.
The minister acknowledged stark challenges: international assessments show that roughly one in three Azerbaijani students fails to meet minimum literacy standards. He argued that boosting functional literacy is a higher priority than rushing to introduce niche programs. “We cannot build innovation on a weak foundation,” he said.
Amrullayev also called for university curriculum reform, warning that many courses still reflect knowledge from 30 years ago.
“That creates a 60-year gap when passed to future generations. We must design programs with the future in mind,” he added.
Beyond curriculum, the ministry is piloting practical projects. On October 1, a long-planned school bus program will launch in Baku, covering about 1,200 students in its first phase. The scheme, a public-private partnership, aims to improve safety and reduce city traffic congestion. Parents are expected to take on more of the costs as coverage expands.
The ministry is also integrating climate education, framing it not only as science but as a way of shaping children’s environmental attitudes across subjects from biology to literature.
In parallel, the Digital School project is developing a chatbot trained on national textbooks. It will support students in subjects such as Azerbaijani language, history, and science, and forms part of a broader AI strategy in education for 2027–2030.
“These steps – from safe transport to AI learning support – signal a new, innovation-driven direction for our schools,” Amrullayev said.
