Number of children in Azerbaijan's boarding schools and children's homes to be reduced to a great extent

"The number of the children in the boarding schools and children’s homes will be reduced to a great extent soon,” Minister of Education Misir Mardanov said at the National Conference on Child Welfare Reform in Azerbaijan.

The Minister said the process is being carried out not only by the Education Ministry, but also by a number of ministries and nongovernmental organizations.

“General plan has been prepared for this purpose. A total of 55 institutions had been monitored in the country before the plan was in place. The number of children and state of their health was determined. Due to this assessment it has been determined what steps will be taken about each of these institutions in future. Nine out of 55 institutions have become educational institutions. The work will continue,” he said.

Mardanov said it is a long and difficult process.

“We do not think that we will be able to hand over all children to the educational institutions or their families within a short period. We can not take these steps with respect to some children. The general plan envisages special projects for these children,” he said.

/APA/