Turkish lyceums in Azerbaijan - worth a try?

Turkish lyceums, which are the first private schools established here after Azerbaijan gained independence, occupy a significant place in the private education sector of the country. Currently, the number of such schools established both in Baku and outskirts makes up 12.

Male and female students get education separately in these institutions. However, the majority of the schools offer education only to boys, while only one school offers education for girls as well.

However, it has nothing to do with female discrimination, since this disposition is likely the result of no demand for a female student at new schools. Annual competitions for the entrance to the Turkish schools show that male candidates for one seat make up approximately 15-20 boys while female candidates -2-3 per seat.

The Turkish lyceums conduct education in two languages. Technical and natural sciences are taught in English and humanities - in Azerbaijani. Moreover, Turkish is also taught as a second foreign language.

Unlike English-speaking schools, Turkish lyceums train pupils both for admission to foreign and local institutions. At the 10th form, school-goers choose their specialization in 4 groups determined by the State Students Admission Commission.

During two years (form 10 and 11), pupils pass special training courses on subjects which are obligatory to study in order to pass test-based entrance exams based on the chosen specialization. This is one of the reasons why school-leavers of Turkish lyceums score enough at the entrance exams for high schools.

Turkish lyceums also enable skilled pupils to take part in international competitions with contributes in the future to enter high schools. Depending on the location of schools, the annual tuition for Turkish lyceums ranges from 2.000 manats in regions and 7.5000 manats in Baku.

The downside of these schools, however, is that pupils, studying the theoretical side of English language, don't maintain adequate speaking abilities in this language. Moreover, unlike English-speaking schools, Turkish lyceums use methods biased to oriental education system.


/Day.Az/