OMM Newsroom
School start and end times currently vary depending on whether a school operates in shifts. In Baku, Absheron and other densely populated areas, some schools run two or even three shifts. Would starting classes at 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. be more convenient for students and parents?
“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports, citing Ictimai TV, that some parents believe a 9 a.m. start would give children more time to wake up properly, eat breakfast and get ready for school.
Others say that a later start would also mean a later finish, affecting daily routines. Students, too, have differing views on class times.
Changing school hours could also affect traffic, particularly in the capital. Education expert Elchin Afandi says expanding school infrastructure and building new educational institutions are essential to addressing the problem.
The expert warns that if classes begin at 9 a.m., students attending later shifts could remain at school until 8 or 9 p.m. This could negatively affect the quality of education.
Jeyhun Mammadov, a member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) Committee on Science and Education, also considers changing school hours a possible option. He says the initiative’s potential effects should be thoroughly analyzed before a decision is made, with school conditions and other factors taken into account.
Other countries organize classes using a range of models. However, experts say foreign approaches should not be adopted wholesale in Azerbaijan and should instead be adapted to local conditions.
The main goal is to ease the difficulties created by the shift system, prevent classes from running too late and create a more suitable school schedule for students.
