DUSHANBE, October 13, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Directors of research institutes of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan will be appointed by the Government upon recommendations of the Academy of Sciences Board, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences Karomatullo Olimov remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 13.

According to him, this is provided for by the plan of actions for implementation of government’s decree on restructuring of the Academy of Sciences.

Besides, the number of research institutes will be reduced.  “Ten institutes will be merged into five institutes,” said the academician, “Reduction in the number of institutes will allow increasing wages of researchers.”

He noted that wages of researchers working with the Academy of Sciences were miserable, “Doctor of sciences, for example, now receives only up to 300 somoni (equivalent to 70 U.S. dollars) per month,” Mr. Olimov added.

We will recall that government’s decree requiring restructuring of the Academy of Sciences also provides for establishment of the Center for Innovative Development of Science and Technologies under the Academy of Sciences and the Higher Attestation Commission (agency to oversee awarding of advanced academic degrees).  Besides, the decree requires reduction of the number of members of the Academy of Sciences’ Board from 11 to 9 persons and reduction of the Academy Board’s personnel from 70 to 50.