Due to his multiple areas of activity, Abdulla ShaigTalibzade was an indispensable figure in public and intellectual life of Azerbaijani society of his time. In 1918, he established a school in Azerbaijani language with the aim of resisting policies of russification (enforcement of Russian language and culture) in Azerbaijani education system. Prior to that, Shaig managed with great difficulty to nationalize a class in Baku Real School where he was teaching. Thus, all subjects that had been previously taught in Russian, started being offered in Azerbaijani. This achievement marked the beginning of introduction of education in national language in Azerbaijan. Subsequently, the Exemplary School of Shaig was the first nationalized school in Azerbaijan. In an environment where Russian language was forcefully introduced in all areas of public and social life including bureaucracy and education, Shaig’s courage and persistent efforts resulted in laying firm ground for nationalization of the secondary education in Azerbaijan.
Shaig met and spoke with each student and their parents, discussing with them their interest in launching classes in Azerbaijani language. His initiative was indeed revolutionary in its nature. On the basis of this first Azerbaijani class the Exemplary School of Shaig was later established.
In 1923, on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Abdulla Shaig’s literary and teaching activity, the students and teachers of the School gathered for a solemn celebration and later published a book devoted to this event. Almost all students who were present at the celebration had studied in Shaig’s 1918 nationalised class. Those were witnesses of Shaig’s tireless pedagogical activity and his achievements and fight against state and education officials of Tsarist Russia.
The title Exemplary School of Shaig was officially granted to the school in recognition of Abdulla Shaig’s exceptional contribution to the development of education and pedagogy in Azerbaijan.
Students of the School wore a special uniform and breast badges. They were given certificates upon completion of their studies. These and other objects and documents from the School are carefully stored in the Museum.