Yerevan: The number of schools in Armenia interested in teaching the Turkish language has seen a rise, despite a shortage of qualified teachers. The Azerbaijani language is currently being taught in three Armenian schools, as reported by APA, citing Armenian media.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan, stated that Azerbaijani is taught as part of a governmental initiative to promote knowledge of regional languages. The program aims to enhance linguistic diversity and cultural understanding.

Andreasyan revealed that approximately 30 schools have joined this initiative so far. While Persian language education is more widespread due to the availability of specialists, Georgian is being taught in just three schools. Despite the interest in regional languages, a significant number of schools prefer to offer Turkish language instruction. However, the ministry is challenged by a notable shortage of qualified Turkish language teachers.

Surveys indicate that nearly 400 schools in Armenia have expressed interest in incorporating a regional language into their curriculum. The growing interest in Turkish language instruction highlights the demand for linguistic skills that align with regional trends and the necessity to address the shortage of teachers to meet educational goals.