KHUJAND, August 29, 2008, Asia-Plus — A roundtable meeting formally titled “The Right to Education in Tajikistan: International and National Practice and Practice” was held in Khujand, Sughd province on August 28.
Abdusamad Sultonov, executive director of the NG Youth and Civilization, said that autumn is coming and it means that students will be sent to cotton plantations again, though it is in contrary with the country’s legislation.
This problem was the focus of yesterday’s roundtable meeting, organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
The event brought together representatives of provincial and local government authorities, farmers, students, university rectors and non-governmental organizations. Participants discussed the social function of higher education, as well as efforts to curb the use of student labor during the cotton harvest, and regular monitoring of this issue.
The meeting raised public awareness and drew the attention of local authorities to the rights of students to receive a quality education.
In the meantime, press release issued by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan quoted Klaus Rasmussen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, as saying, “In Tajikistan each year, thousands of students are found not on college campuses but on cotton plantations for over one month during the academic year. We believe that discussion on this issue between respected authorities and university staff and students will help to address this concern.”
On the conclusion of the meeting, its participants adopted an appeal to the government of Tajikistan, Sughd authorities and administrations of universities in the province for curbing the use of student labor during the cotton-harvesting campaign.
