DUSHANBE, March 5, Asia-Plus  -- Education conditions of blind and partially sighted people leave much to be desired, Tuourabek Davlatov, chairman of the Tajikistan’s Blind Society, said in interview with Asia-Plus today.  

According to him, only 2.6 percent (263 people) of the society members have higher education. 

372 children with low vision now study at special schools for blind and partially sighted children.  “However, not all blind and partially sighted children may get education, especially those living in remote mountain areas,” Davlatov said.    

The blind society head also underlined the necessity of making shift to a new system, “under which blind and partially sighted people work among healthy people.”   

“Despite numerous proposals, Central Asia’s states have not yet adopted a law requiring job quota for disabled people,” he said.

Davlatov noted that the society has 11 enterprises fro blind and partially sighted people, which produce various articles of domestic utility and stationery.  However, because of lack of raw materials and ageing technologies it is very for them to realize their products. 

According to figures provided by the Tajik Blind Society, in 2003-2007, 263 blind and partially sighted people got higher education, 734 got special secondary education, 6,511 got secondary education and 1,314 got primary education.  1,010 blind and partially sighted people are still without education. 

Established in 1937, the Tajik Blind Society now has 9,832 members.