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Rabat – Morocco’s Princess Lalla Hasnaa visited a public secondary school in Baku on Wednesday as part of a new educational partnership linking schools in Rabat and the Azerbaijani capital.
The visit signals a step forward in cultural cooperation between the two countries and reflects ongoing efforts to promote heritage education among youth.
The Princess, who serves as President of the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Rabat’s Cultural Heritage, arrived at Educational Complex No. 132-134 to a warm welcome from Azerbaijani and Moroccan officials.
Among those present were Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev, Deputy Minister of Culture Murad Huseynov, and Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid. Also greeting her were Morocco’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohamed Adil Embarch, and Nouzha Alaoui, Secretary General of the Foundation.
The visit opened with remarks by Minister Amrullayev, who described the school as one of Baku’s most respected institutions. He called the Princess’s presence a turning point in the school’s history, where shared values and a common interest in cultural heritage meet.
He also added that the partnership between the Foundation and Azerbaijani institutions gives students a chance to discover their cultural roots while discovering those of others.
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School Director Aygun Milkayilova expressed similar views. She added that the partnership is a new era of mutual understanding where cultural heritage is a common resource and not a local treasure.
Inside the school’s modest museum, Lalla Hasnaa watched students’ performances that were filled with pride and dignity. After both national anthems performed, a young singer, Atila Garib, sang the Azerbaijan song, and Abid Chalabiyrv later played Chams El Achiya, a Moroccan classic, on the kamancha, an Azerbaijani string instrument. The visit also included a traditional dance, Cengi, danced with youthful vigor and accuracy.
Two students, Alper Qarib and Nurlana Hasanli, led the Princess through the museum and demonstrated its focus on Azerbaijan’s pedagogical heritage.
Later, Lalla Hasnaa joined a seventh-grade class to listen to a presentation on how Azerbaijan integrates culture and the arts into its education system. One teacher pointed out linguistic echoes with Arabic and Amazigh, drawing attention to words like müəllim, meaning “teacher.” The conversation noted how language and heritage showcase deeper connections between the two countries.
The visit concluded with an exhibition of student-made artworks featuring landmarks from Rabat and Baku. The drawings, models, and mixed-media pieces revealed a strong sense of identity rooted in place and history.
Before leaving the school, Lalla Hasnaa took photos with students and teachers, smiling amid a sea of excited faces. The visit carried the spirit of a cultural bridge in the lived experience of young people eager to learn from each other.
