A senior official from the Ministry of Education has raised concerns over local government inaction in supporting public schools.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tajikistan, Badridin Muzaffarzoda, has criticized several city and district administrations for failing to allocate the funds legally mandated for student needs and school maintenance. In an interview with the ministry’s official newspaper Omuẓgor, he stressed that responsibility for school repairs and construction lies with local authorities — not solely with the Ministry.
Budget allocation gaps
According to Muzaffarzoda, public school funding in Tajikistan is structured by type of institution. Each year, 2,156 somonis are supposed to be allocated per student in general secondary schools, with an additional 400,321 somonis per institution for operational costs. For basic schools, the figures rise to 2,688 somonis per student and 161,183 somonis per school. Primary schools are to receive 3,363 somonis per student and 58,026 somonis per institution annually.
“These funds should be provided by local government bodies. However, some have failed to fulfill this obligation, in violation of existing legislation,” Muzaffarzoda noted.
He also pointed out that even when money is allocated, not all school administrators have the necessary skills or oversight to manage it efficiently. The Deputy Minister did not name specific regions or clarify the scale of withheld funds.
Burden on parents despite official warnings
The issue of school repairs resurfaces every year following the academic term’s end — often leading to fundraising campaigns targeting parents. This is despite a direct order from the Minister of Education and Science, Rahim Saidzoda, who has publicly urged schools to abandon the practice of collecting money from families.
Nevertheless, many parents — afraid of repercussions for their children — continue to pay such fees quietly, even though these collections are illegal.
A worsening infrastructure crisis
The financial neglect by some local authorities contributes to worsening conditions across Tajikistan’s schools. Shortages of desks, chairs, and classrooms, as well as deteriorating infrastructure, are among the most pressing issues.
President Emomali Rahmon has also acknowledged the crisis. In a recent address, he revealed that 314 school buildings are currently in emergency condition, while another 378 require urgent repairs.
Conclusion
As the new academic year approaches, the government faces renewed pressure to ensure that funding obligations are met and that the burden of school maintenance does not fall unfairly on parents. The Ministry of Education’s appeal to local authorities is clear: fulfill your legal responsibilities — or risk further damaging the country’s education system.
