The first Ministry of Education was established by the decision of the Government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic dated May 28, 1918 – the Ministry of Public Education. By the decision of the Council of Ministers dated June 30, 1918, the structure of the Ministry of Public Education consisting of three departments (general secondary education, higher and secondary special education, vocational schools) was approved.

By the decision of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Azerbaijan SSR dated April 28, 1920, the Ministry of Public Education was renamed the People’s Commissariat of Education and all educational institutions in the country were subordinated to this body.

In 1940, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Department of Labor Resources was established and technical and vocational education institutions were included in the subordination of this department. The State Technical Vocational Education Committee, established by the government in 1959 on the basis of this department, functioned until 1988. At the same time, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR, the Committee for Higher and Secondary Special Education was established in 1959 (in 1964 it became the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education). Higher and secondary special schools of the republic were subordinated to this institution and the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education operated until 1988. In general, from 1959 to 1988, there were two ministries and one committee on education in Azerbaijan (Ministry of Public Education, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, State Technical Vocational Education Committee).

In 1988, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR, all three ministries were abolished and the Ministry of Public Education was established on their basis and the structure of the ministry was approved. By the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 3, 1993, the Ministry of Public Education was renamed the Ministry of Education. The Statute of the Ministry was approved by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated March 1, 2005.

Emin Amrullayev has been appointed Minister of Education by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 27, 2020.