DUSHANBE, June 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Issues related to expansion of bilateral education cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan were a major topic of a meeting of Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov with Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan Said Mohammad Khairkhah that was held in Dushanbe on June 2.

According to Noilsho Nouraliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education (MoE), the sides, in particular, discussed quota for Afghan students to Tajikistan (the number of study permits for Afghan nationals) for 2009-2010.

Rahmonov and Khairkhah also considered the possibility of Afghan nationals’ taking post-graduate courses and working for doctor’s decree at universities and research institutes in Tajikistan.

They also discussed training of Afghan nationals at Tajik vocational-technical schools and functioning of the general school Somoniyon for Afghan children in Dushanbe.

The two also touched upon issues related to supporting vocational universities (institutions of higher vocational studies) in Afghanistan, including creation of MA courses and use of experience of Tajik lecturers and specialists at Afghan universities, Nouraliyev said.