The cost of education in vocational institutions in Azerbaijan has reached an unprecedented level – starting from 1,800 manat and upwards. These fees are almost on par with the annual tuition fees at universities, raising legitimate questions about the reasonableness of such rates and the quality of the services provided.
Education expert Kamran Asadov, speaking on this matter, points to systemic issues in this sector.
“There are 107 vocational education institutions in the country, and unfortunately, a significant portion of them cannot provide training that meets the labor market’s demands. The issue lies in the insufficient qualifications of the teachers and trainers themselves,” he said.
Asadov emphasizes the mismatch between the price and the quality of services provided.
“The State Agency for Vocational Education, as a legal entity of public law, naturally should provide paid services. However, the set tariffs of 1,800 manat and higher are completely out of touch with reality. Today, instead of paying such amounts to a vocational institution, people can receive more affordable and higher-quality training from private instructors,” the expert believes.
According to the expert, at higher education institutions in the country, such as the Azerbaijan University of Languages, Mingachevir State University, or Ganja State University, the annual tuition fee ranges from 1,600 to 1,700 manat. Against this backdrop, the cost of 6-12 month vocational courses, which is similarly high, if not exceeding university fees, raises concerns. Furthermore, the increase in tuition fees has not been accompanied by qualitative changes in the educational process.
“With the price increase, no additional qualified specialists were attracted, and the training programs were not updated – the same teachers continue to work in the same format,” Asadov added.
