U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS TAJIKISTAN'S EFFORTS TO
MODERNIZE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
TAJIKISTAN. Over half of Tajikistan's population is under 19 years of age. Tajikistan's youth of today will determine the success of the country tomorrow. The Tajik Government and the United States agree that the improvement of educational systems beginning with the primary education level is necessary for the economic and civil development of Tajikistan. While we often talk about children being the future of a country, they are also the present, and deserve support now. The Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, continue to work with communities, teachers, school directors, teacher trainers, and Ministry of Education officials to improve the quality of basic education in Tajikistan.
Students have noted a change in the classroom. In Tojikobod District, one student said "Before we used to sit separately in rows, did not talk to each other during the classes and were reluctant to ask for help. Now, we all sit together or in small groups and learn through interactive activities and games. We also ask many questions if we do not understand the subject."
Both programs work closely with community members to improve community support for education. Parents are encouraged to visit their children's classrooms and to participate in parent associations. One Murghab parent association member noted that the program has improved the school environment and the quality of teaching: "Now the teachers and children like to be in school".
Tajikistan's schools and universities need to adapt to produce skilled graduates to meet uncertain, often rapidly changing, employer needs. Learning must become more flexible, more student-centered, and more focused on problem solving and applications of concepts rather than memorization of facts. AED's Participation, Education and Knowledge Strengthening Program (PEAKs) and AKF's Improving Basic Education in Tajikistan (IBET) programs began in 2003 to provide training and material assistance needed to achieve these results. The strategy is to support 23 schools and provide training to nearly 100 surrounding schools.
Teachers are enthusiastic about the new methods and have found creative ways to use them within the existing curriculum. To date, the project has provided training to nearly 1,500 primary and secondary teachers who teach more than 62,000 students throughout all of Tajikistan.
The PEAKs and IBET programs have also encouraged the community to contribute to school rehabilitation needs. While support for infrastructure renovations is not a major focus of the project, these USAID-funded programs have complemented community contributions to carry out renovations in nearly 40 schools. The IBET program also provides training to school management teams to secure their understanding and support for the changes being introduced in the classroom.
The dedication and hard work of education professionals combined with development assistance from programs like USAID's PEAKs and IBET programs contribute to the modernization of the education system in Tajikistan. In turn, a modern education system will produce the next generation of thinkers, reformers, and leaders that will allow Tajikistan to be competitive and economically viable in the globalized market economy.
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