DUSHANBE, November 5, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- 25,000 computers have been distributed to schools across the country within the frameworks of the first and second phases of the national school computerization program designed for 2002-2010, Sohibnazar Safarov, the head of the department for information and communication technologies (ICT) within the Ministry of Education (MoE), announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on November 4.

According to him, they have reached 73 percent of the target.  Under the program, each school should have computers at the rate of one computer per 20 students.

Safarov noted that more than 15,000 computer had been purchased due to funds provided from presidential reserve fund.

The ICT curriculum for schools has been developed and 500,000 copies of ICT textbooks for 7th – 11th grades have been published under the program.

“However, there are some problems with implementation of the program,” said the MoE official, “One of the main problems is an acute shortage of ICT teachers.  The other serious problem is electricity shortages in the provinces; in this connection, the ministry has called on local authorities to provide schools with generators.”