The role of heydar aliyev in science, education and culture of azerbaijan

THE ROLE OF HEYDAR ALIYEV IN SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF AZERBAIJAN

Aida Mirzayeva
Western Caspian University,
PhD Student
[e-mail]

Key words:

science, education, culture, development, value, history, leader

The Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev has an indisputable role in modern science, education and culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. His quote “The level of every nation is determined by the level of its knowledge” reveals his attitude and value of education. He recognized the fact that by developing science, education and culture we can develop our country and nation.

As a glimpse to his own education it is worth to mention that he went to school at the age of 6 and from the first years he became interested in all the subjects that he studied. He had a phenomenal memory. He also took an active part in the school life. He had a special interest in literature and even wrote poems. He was a member of a dramatical circle and having leadership qualities acted mainly in the role of a king.
He had a special talent in painting. His portrait of Fizuli won at school art competition. His flair in art prompted him to apply to the architectural department of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute, but in 1941 breaking out of the war impeded him to complete the education.
As we see, since childhood H.Aliyev had an active life filled with interest to art, literature and different spheres of life. And wherever he worked his inner interest still remained in his young heart. As a literary man his great quotes imprinted in Azerbaijan literature, as an architect he built a strong and powerful country and an artist he created a beautiful place to live and prosper.
It is known that H.Aliyev worked in the State Security Committee for 25 years and became a major general. Working under the guidance of USSR government inspite of all the obstacles he made a great effort to hire national cadres. Another problem was repression of bright people of Azerbaijan. A lot of outstanding citizens of that time were exiled away from their native land. One of these examples is Huseyn Javid who was exiled to the Siberia where he died. 41 years later on his 100^th anniversary due to great effort made by H.Aliyev his body was replaced to his native land Nakhichevan. Another example is the struggle of Heydar Aliyev for preventing Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh and Ziya Bunyadov accused of panturkism from the repression.
In 1996 being the President of the Azerbaijan Republic he rose a question and adopted the law of exempting fake accusation against repressed citizens of Azerbaijan.
All the above mentioned facts show H.Aliyev’s devotion, care, defense of the citizens of Azerbaijan.
Education took a remarkable place during the reign of H.Aliyev. He quoted: “Education is the most important part of each state, country, society, life and activity.” After the collapse of the Soviet Union we had only the remains of dilapidated schools and universities with no equipment or laboratories. Nowadays we have witnessed great changes in the educational system due to the policy established by Heydar Aliyev and followed by the present president Ilham Aliyev. Our new generation gets education in modern kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities that have been newly build or remodelled and equipped by modern technology.
There have been remarkable changes in the educational system. Secondary school system has adopted curriculum program that enables students to show all their potential, cooperate with their peers and deepen their knowledge by using different sources of information. The next step – university system has adopted Bologna system according to which students must pass credits to go on their course.
All these innovations have been made to integrate our country to international educational standard. They have widened and even destroyed the borders opening the doors to any foreign reputable universities. Now our students successfully participate in exchange or scholarship programs which makes it possible to become a good specialist who can make a great contribution to the development of our country.
Heydar Aliyev’s words “Education is the future of the nation” are reflected in all the processes that we observe. Our young generation should strive to continue this policy. Everybody ought to realize the value of the country and the nation. It is possible only by means of education.
President Ilham Aliyev continues the policy started by the Nationwide Leader. H.Aliyev Foundation led by the First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva supports educational institutions in many ways. According to its project there have been renovation of pre-school institutions – almost all of the kindergartens have been thoroughly repaired and equipped by posters, multimedia disks, boards, panels, games and other visual aids.
The Foundation annually supplies first grade students with school-bags and stationery. A great number of books and publications have been translated into Azeri and printed by local publishing houses and distributed among the libraries of educational institutions. [5]
University students have an opportunity to get scholarship and even be sent to a foreign countries to study at the university with the financial support of our government.
Another quote that shows H.Aliyev’s attitude to education is “A teacher who does not work hard at himself/herself cannot be a good teacher.’’ These words show the role of a teacher in education. H.Aliyev considered a teacher as the main power leading the educational process. During recent years teachers have taken part in numerous educational programs, trainings and seminars which helped them to improve and use new teaching methods. As time goes on we must keep updated to new processes and tendencies. If we develop our education, we will develop our country.
The words said by H.Aliyev “It is our civil duty to be devoted to our national values, native land, language and rich history” show his devotion to his nation and all the literary and cultural inheritance is a vivid evidence of it. [2, 439].
Due to the appropriate and humanistic policy of Heydar Aliyev we live freely in the country with political stability and continuous development. He managed to gather all the people living in our country including not only Azerbaijanis but also other nations around one single ideology. H.Aliyev highly appreciated multiculturalism and made it an inseparable part of the state policy.
The Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev was right to consider the policy of multiculturalism as an important part in the democratic and ethno-cultural development of the country. He stated that the maintenance of the rights and freedom as well as ethnic-cultural values of all the ethnicities living in the territory of Azerbaijan is derived from the protection of human rights and freedom as an important principle of democracy. [4]
To integrate the idea of multiculturalism a lot of regional and international projects were launched. The course named “Azerbaijani Multiculturalism” started to be taught at different universities within and outside the country. It is important to teach the new generation the values of tolerance, interrelationship, mutual understanding and culture because the future of the country is carried on by the next generation.
H.Aliyev stated: “Culture enriches nations with the best examples gathered by humanity.” Self-consciousness of the nation was another centrepiece of the leader. As one of the important features of the Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev’s idea of Azerbaijanianism which is the indicator of the Azerbaijani people’s great national self-consciousness and deep cognition played a significant part in the consolidation of Azerbaijan’s independence, strengthening of our statehood and the process of the formation of the state. The ideology of Azerbaijanianism stands on the idea of the unity of the nationalities living in Azerbaijan based on historical, moral-ethical, cultural traditions. [4]
H.Aliyev also focused on another important factor as science considering it as a guarantee of successful development of the country. Creating our own scientists, applying advanced innovations both in equipment and educational system were among his primary targets.
Considered as the greatest Azerbaijani politician, he was awarded a number of state orders and medals and international awards. He was elected as honourable doctor in different universities including the Lenin Order - four times - and the Order of Red Star. He received orders and medals from foreign countries and received a rank of the Hero of the Socialistic Labor twice. [3]
President Ilham Aliyev successfully continues the development of Azerbaijan in scientific, educational and cultural spheres. On December 29, 2006 he established the Heydar Aliyev Center which conducts consistent activities in the field of profound research as well encourages studies in the Azerbaijan history, language, culture, national and spiritual values. The centre supports development of various fields of science, culture, health, sports, environment, economics and others. [7]
The great deeds of H.Aliyev refer not only to present time but also to future generations who will be grateful to him. Maybe they will regard it from different angle. [1, 531] As time passes lives of great people are of no less importance. We must not forget that all those people from history made our past, present and future.
H.Aliyev was a strong person till the last days of his life. Giving a speech in front of the cadets he had a heart attack and fell down breaking some of his ribs. Nevertheless he did not want to seem weak in the eyes of future officers. So he returned to the scene, completed his speech and left the hall himself with the storm of applause of the cadets who have witnessed a strong will that is a necessary trait for future defenders of the country.
It is not possible to embrace all the contribution made by H.Aliyev to our country, nation, science, education and culture. Due to his hard, devoted and restless work and efforts we have a strong independent country where we can live, develop and prosper. H.Aliyev is a good example for all of us to completely dedicate ourselves to our country and nation, preserving our national values and developing in all spheres of life.

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