Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev has clarified his controversial remarks on higher education costs. In a social media post, he stated that the per-student education expenditure in Azerbaijan is low compared to developed countries, affecting quality.
He noted: "While low tuition fees are socially welcomed, they overall impact education quality. Education requires investment. Teacher salaries, infrastructure, and research depend on these costs."
Amrullayev also addressed myths about "free" education: "Nowhere in the world is education free. In Austria, Germany, and France, annual bachelor's costs range from 10,000 to 18,000 euros. The 500-1,000 euros paid by students is a registration fee, not tuition. The state covers the actual costs."
He emphasized that in Azerbaijan, over half of bachelor's students study at state expense: "The state funds education based on economic needs. Fields like medicine and agriculture are fully state-funded."
The minister explained the existence of paid education due to high demand: "Many want higher education. The state only funds a necessary number. Some applicants could study other fields for free but choose their desired specialties on a paid basis."
He argued that tuition fees for some fields are insufficient: "For computer engineering, finance, or construction, annual fees of 1,500-2,000 manat are not enough to train globally competitive professionals. Low-cost education at best yields a diploma."
Amrullayev stressed his aim is not to propose fee increases: "The goal is constructive discussion. Students in SABAH groups, dual degree programs, and state orders have their costs covered by the state. The state is gradually increasing funding."
He concluded: "Sometimes, quality vocational training is better than a low-quality higher education diploma."
