KHUAJND, August 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- 45,000 first graders will go to school in the Sughd province this school year, Ms. Dilbar Ismoilova, the deputy chairperson of the Sughd education directorate, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

Last year, 43,442 first graders went to school in northern Tajikistan, Ms. Ismoilova said.

According to her, 894 general schools, including 33 grammar schools, 23 lyceums and 11 private schools, now function in Sughd.  There are 464,225 school students, including 226,533 girls, in the province.  “15 new schools will open their doors to pupils in Sughd on September 1 and 25 other new schools will be finished by the end of this year,” Ismoilova said.