The Last Bell will ring for all Azerbaijani school graduates on May 31, symbolizing the end of another academic year. This will also be a challenging call for the beginning of the independent adolescence period for thousands of graduates.
As many as 216,734 people will graduate from Azerbaijani schools in the 2012-2013 academic year.
125,250 of the students are graduating from the 9th grade, and the remaining 91,484 are graduates of the 11th grade, according to the Education Ministry.
The Last Bell puts an end to many-year-long efforts made during classes, exams and homework assignments. Every graduate will certainly remember this solemn day of his or her life, and the school years will embedded in the memories of many for a long time and will be recalled as the sweetest, innocent times. But is that the last bell for passionate years, which one expected impatiently, or just farewell to the careless, happiest years of childhood?
The Last Bell school ceremony on one hand is a heartwarming and proud event primarily for the school students; it is also a joyful occasion for teachers and parents, which marks a successful end of studying and ushers in a new path of youth waiting ahead. On the other hand, this event brings sorrow to the youngsters, who have to part with their sincere friends and favorite teachers, and leaves behind the bitter-sweet memories of the past 11 years.
On this memorable day all graduates bind a ribbon saying "Graduate" on the school uniforms and attach small bell badges on it. School principals convey their Last Bell congratulations to all graduates. The achievements of the school year are underscored, and distinguished students and teachers are awarded. Schoolchildren amaze the participants of the event with their interesting sketches, dances and performances.
The graduate (11th grader) who deserved the "knowledge key" for excellent academic achievements presents it to a student of the 10th grade.
This is followed by the ringing of bells symbolically representing the school bell which indicates the start or the end of a class.
Also, an 11th grade graduating student walks around carrying a first grade pupil who symbolically rings a bell.
After the Last Bell many graduates head to the Baku seaside park (boulevard) to have fun.
A graduation party is the continuation of the Last Bell ceremony. Proms usually take place in schools, colleges and universities.
The ceremony is usually divided into the formal and solemn parts. The graduates are awarded certificates or diplomas during the official part of the event. The solemn part is associated with certain traditions of a particular educational institution, often featuring entertainment.
The last bell implies bidding farewell to childhood and is the start of a somewhat uncertain, but fascinating as well as responsible stage of the person's life.
We wish all the students to ring this bell in Azerbaijani universities, to master their selected field of occupation and to be an honorable citizen of their country. Educated youth is the bright future of Azerbaijan.
by azernews