"Somonien", Tajikistan's only school for children of Afghan migrants and refugees, has received a license. This was reported to “Asia-Plus” by the embassy of the former government of Afghanistan in Dushanbe. Earlier, the Tajik authorities stated that this school had been operating illegally for a year.
According to a source at the Embassy, the "Somonien" school has recently received a license to operate with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and is now continuing its activities legally.
"Currently, more than 500 children of Afghan refugees are studying in three classes in the building of the Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan. Classes started on August 30, and the school bell rang that day," – the source said.
The license of the "Somonien" school expired on October 17, 2024. At the end of July this year, the head of the Agency for Supervision of Education under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mukhammadtoir Saidzoda, said that the "Somonien" school was operating without a license.
"We had a meeting with the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Tajikistan, Muhammad Zahir Agbar, about the activities of the "Somonien" school. At this meeting, we made suggestions on how to resolve some issues. According to the agreement reached, they were supposed to apply to the Agency for a license, but they did not. However, they should apply for a license to continue the school's activities," – Saidzoda said.
Earlier, the Agency for Supervision of Education stated that another problem faced by this school is related to the regulatory documents that need to be submitted.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Tajikistan told "Asia-Plus" that "they have received all the necessary documents and licenses to operate, there are no more obstacles."
The "Somonien" School was founded in Dushanbe in 2001. Before the Taliban movement came to power in Afghanistan, the school provided education to the children of immigrants from Afghanistan. The institution operated in accordance with the regulations of the Afghan Ministry of Education, which also paid the rent of the school.
After the return of the Taliban to power, the school faced financial difficulties. The U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan reimbursed the rent until February 2024. After the end of the financing, the school moved to the building of the Embassy of Afghanistan.
The school's principal, Nazhiya Zahir, said that the school owed $11,000 to the former landlord. Zahir Agbar assured that the debt of the school will be repaid.
Earlier, he reported that the Tajik government promises to allocate another place for the school, but, according to the ambassador, "it will take time."
