With the completion of the first stage of teacher certification in Azerbaijan, the assessment and salary mechanisms to be applied in the next stage have also become a topic of discussion.
The proposal to replace the currently applied 10 and 35 percent salary supplements with a single coefficient in the re-certification stage, which will start in 2027, is also on the agenda. However, no final decision has yet been made regarding this change.
So, what changes are expected in the teachers' salary system in the next certification stage? How can the existing differential salary mechanism be updated?
Gunay Alakbarova, a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education, spoke to AzEdu.az on the topic.
She noted that it is possible for this approach to change in the second certification period:
"The completion of the first five-year period of certification is an important stage for our education system. I believe that in the next stage, the main focus should be not only on assessing teachers' knowledge and skills, but also on stimulating their work in a more fair and efficient way.
As we know, currently, a 10 or 35 percent supplement is applied to the official salaries of teachers who successfully pass certification, depending on their results. However, it is possible that this approach will change in the second certification period. The Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullayev, has also voiced in his speeches the proposal to reconsider the differential salary mechanism and replace the existing percentages with a single coefficient. This could be a fairly significant change. Nevertheless, no final decision has yet been made regarding specific percentages and new calculation rules.
I think there is an important point to consider here."
The teacher must know both what is expected of them and how the results they show will affect their salary:
"If in the first certification stage, the main focus was on teachers having certain knowledge and skills, in the next stage, the continuity of their professional development should come to the forefront. If a single increase coefficient is applied, this could allow more teachers to improve their material well-being. However, opportunities for additional stimulation of teachers who show high results and constantly work on themselves should also be considered.
On the other hand, it would not be right to limit a teacher's professionalism only to the scores they get in an exam. The methods they apply in the classroom, their pedagogical skills, professional development, and their contribution to students' learning process are also factors that should be taken into account.
I think that in the new period starting from 2027, the main goal should not be just to create a salary difference among teachers, but to form a more advanced salary mechanism that encourages quality teaching and continuous professional development.
Most importantly, any changes should be clearly explained to teachers in advance. Because the teacher must know both what is expected of them and how the results they show will affect their salary.
I believe that the experience gained in the first five-year period will create a basis for further improving the social well-being of teachers and supporting their professional development in the next stage."
