DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT “AZERBAIJAN - 2020: OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE” Project encouragement will be created to expand the chain of state kindergartens, create preschool education institutions that belong to different forms of property (municipal, community, private and family kindergartens) by improving conditions and supplies. Work to construct and refurbish schools will continue and a special programme will be drafted and implemented to rationalize the network of general education institutions. Transition to a 12-year general education system will be secured. In order to ensure transition from the “memory school” that slows down pupils’ intellectual activity and general development to the “school of ideas and thought”, systemic measures will be implemented. Education at the level of full secondary education will be organized on the basis of specialization and individual developing programmes will be created for talented children. At the same time, various developing, correcting and inclusive education programmes will be created for children who need special care and have limited physical abilities. University estates (campuses) and appropriate industrial parks will be created for institutions of higher education. Standards will be prepared and applied that will support institutions of higher education in nurturing specialists with knowledge and skills that meet the country’s socio-economic development requirements and in turning into centres of education, research and innovation. The computerization of the information system will always be in the centre of attention as one of the main directions of establishing general education at a modern level. In 2013-2020, a state programme will be adopted to computerize the education system in the Azerbaijan Republic. Within the framework of the state programme, all the education institutions of Azerbaijan (including schools located in remote regions) will be provided with access to the Internet, every education institution will be provided with the necessary technical equipment and connected to the single Education Network of Azerbaijan. Every classroom in schools will be provided with a laptop, projector and electronic table, while all pupils will be provided with a netbook or tablets within the framework of the project one pupil – one computer. The use of electronic education technologies will significantly expand and a virtual learning environment will be created for teachers and pupils. To this end, the creation of electronic education and methodical resources on all subjects will continue, and “Cloud’ technologies will be used to safely keep electronic resources and ensure easy access to them. Open Education Resources operating free of charge will be created, and these resources will be integrated into the education process and relevant free use with copyright licences. The number of “electronic schools” will reach 1,000. To ensure selfeducation and the growing demand for lifetime education, libraries will be modernized and opportunities for using digital education resources will be expanded. The number of electronic libraries will increase, a Distant Education Centre will be created and the use of distant education in institutions of education will expand. 23