DUSHANBE, February 14, Asia-Plus  - 78 of 112 schools in Dushanbe have still remained disconnected from regular power supply as electricity rationing was introduced in the Tajik capital on February 7.   

            Shamsullo Islomov, the head of the Dushanbe education directorate, told Asia-Plus on Thursday that only 54 schools in Dushanbe are now provided with central heating, while 11 schools located in the Luchob area and the Varzob district are heated by firewood and coal.   

            In Dushanbe’s Ismoili Somoni district, 7 of 24 schools and two of 14 kindergartens have been affected by the tough power supply schedule introduced in the city.   

            In the Shohamnsour district, nine of 18 schools have been affected by the electricity rationing.  However, they are provided with central heating.  The electricity rationing has also affected seven kindergartens in the district.    

            In the Firdavsi district, only one of 23 schools and one of 23 kindergartens receives regular electricity supplies.   

            The worst hit is the Sino district, where only two of 43 schools and two of 34 kindergartens receive electricity supplies regularly.

In the majority of Dushanbe schools, cold weather and electricity shortages have forced pupils to wrap themselves in coats inside their classes.