In 2025, approximately 9,000 Tajik children who had been studying in schools across Russia returned to Tajikistan due to difficulties in continuing their education abroad, the country’s Minister of Education and Science, Rahim Saidzoda, told reporters in Dushanbe on January 30. These children have since been reintegrated into the country’s education system.
Speaking at a news conference, Saidzoda expressed concern about the situation of migrant children from Tajikistan in Russia, many of whom are left without access to education. However, he added that there is no precise data on the number of such children.
"All the children who have returned are under my direct supervision—they are our children," Saidzoda stated. He noted that some children faced challenges because they had not been attending school while living in Russia.
For example, Saidzoda described a case where a boy, who had been removed from a Tajik school in the 4th grade, returned to Tajikistan and wished to continue his studies in the 8th grade, despite spending four years in Russia without attending school. "We are doing everything we can to address such issues," the minister said.
The large return of Tajik students from Russia coincided with the implementation of a new law in Russia requiring migrant children to demonstrate proficiency in the Russian language before enrolling in schools. As a result, thousands of children were left without access to education when the school year began.
When asked about the number of Tajik children in Russia who are still unable to attend school, Saidzoda stated that his ministry does not have precise statistics, as tracking this data does not fall under the ministry’s purview.
Regarding the possibility of offering online education to Tajik children living abroad, particularly in Russia, the minister gave a negative response, clarifying, "This is not within the scope of the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan’s responsibilities."
It is worth noting that two years ago, Tajikistan's authorities pointed out the absence of Tajik schools or classes in Russia. As a result, Tajik children living abroad do not have access to education in their native language or according to the curriculum established by the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan.
Earlier, Ministry sources explained that the lack of online education opportunities was due to energy supply limitations and slow internet speeds in some areas. Since then, there have been no further reports of efforts to launch distance learning for Tajik students abroad.