A brand-new report by the Institute for Keeping Track Of Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) exposed that Azerbaijan has actually made considerable strides in its school curriculum, ending up being the very first Muslim-majority nation to include a meaning of antisemitism into books.
The report, released on Thursday, becomes part of a three-part series on Main Asian curricula produced in cooperation with the Ruderman Household Structure, likewise taking a look at Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
A progressive shift in education
The report highlights a favorable representation of Jews and Israel, together with acknowledgment of the Holocaust as the genocide of 6 million Jews. A significant upgrade in the 2024-25 academic year saw the elimination of anti-Israel stories, providing a more well balanced view of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Encouragingly, there are no indications of radicalism or Islamist rhetoric in the books. Rather, they promote secularism, variety, and inclusivity.
In spite of these developments, Azerbaijani Jewish history and more comprehensive Jewish historic stories stay missing, marking a location for more enhancement.
Israel’s representation in Azerbaijani books
The research study examined 53 books from Azerbaijan’s nationwide curriculum, revealing a significant shift in the representation of Israel. While older products illustrated Israel as aggressive and dismissive of peace, the upgraded curriculum associates the roots of the dispute to Arab rejection of the 1947 UN Partition Strategy. It slams corruption and military failures in Arab states while embracing a more neutral language– changing terms such as “occupied” with “taken control of” or “caught.”
The books now present Israel as a center for technological and farming development, mentioning its sophisticated watering systems as a design for sustainability. A Grade 11 Location book positions Israeli farming as a service to worldwide obstacles, cultivating a story of worldwide cooperation.
Palestinian violence, formerly referred to as “guerilla warfare,” is now identified terrorism, and the unfavorable worldwide effect of such actions is acknowledged. Furthermore, maps in Location books now acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state. A recommendation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as the sole pursuer of peace has actually been gotten rid of, strengthening a more neutral position.
Judaism and interfaith regard in Azerbaijani education
Azerbaijani books show regard for Judaism and other minority religious beliefs, integrating them as part of the country’s material. Jewish beliefs, signs, and locations of praise are referenced, while unfavorable historic stereotypes about Jews have actually been left out. A Grade 1 Life Understanding book teaches spiritual variety and compassion, including pictures of a synagogue and church in Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, a Grade 3 instructor’s guide recommends trainees produce spiritual signs, consisting of a Star of David, from colored paper while discussing their significance. A Grade 6 book provides the Jewish and Muslim variations of the Scriptural sacrifice story side by side.
A significant example of inclusivity is the acknowledgment of Jewish Azerbaijani war hero Albert Agarunov as a nationwide hero, although his Jewish heritage is not clearly discussed.
Holocaust education and specifying antisemitism
The report applauds Azerbaijan’s clear and direct mentor of the Holocaust, specifying it as the methodical genocide of 6 million Jews. Books include images and first-hand accounts of Nazi atrocities, prisoner-of-war camp, and antisemitic laws. A Grade 9 History book clearly specifies antisemitism, making Azerbaijan the very first Muslim-majority nation to do so in its curriculum.
The curriculum likewise covers the persecution of Jews in Tsarist Russia and the Dreyfus Affair, broadening trainees’ historic understanding of antisemitism beyond the Holocaust.
A design for tolerance in the Muslim world
Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Household Structure, stressed the significance of the research study, calling it “a groundbreaking report that clarifies the area’s dedication to tolerance and regard.”
IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff highlighted Azerbaijan’s geopolitical position as a nonreligious, ethnically Turkic, Muslim-majority nation surrounding Iran, Russia, and Turkey. He kept in mind that the rejection of severe Islamist worths promoted by Iran in favor of tolerance and inclusivity is an essential design for other Muslim countries.
Roman Gurevich, Honorary Ambassador of the Jewish Company in Azerbaijan, included: Azerbaijan can function as a design for the world in tolerance and regard for all religious beliefs and people. The bond in between Azerbaijan and the Jewish individuals is centuries old and continues to reinforce in the modern-day period.
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