The Ministry of Education and Science of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) has provided 100 quotas for Tajik citizens to study in 18 specialties in institutions of primary and secondary vocational education. This was reported to “Asia-Plus” by the Committee on Primary and Secondary Vocational Education under the Government of Tajikistan.

The decision was made following a meeting with the delegation of Tatarstan in Dushanbe on September 6. It is noted that the number of quotas may be increased in the future.

“These quotas can be used both in the current academic year and in the next, if it is not possible to use them this year,” - the committee said.

At the meeting, the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan, Andrey Pominov, confirmed the republic's readiness for further cooperation with Tajikistan, including cooperation on the basis of the “Alabuga” Polytechnic College. During the meeting, issues of professional development of teachers of vocational educational institutions and the development of new approaches to this process were also discussed.

“Alabuga” is a special economic zone of industrial production type located in Tatarstan. The sole shareholder of the management company of the same name is the Ministry of Land and Property Relations of Tatarstan.

In February 2024, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against “Alabuga”. The agency claimed that the production of “Geran-2” type attack drones, the components of which are supplied by Iran and which are used by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, has been deployed and is increasing on the territory of the SEZ.

As previously reported, last year Russia significantly increased the number of quota places for Tajik applicants, bringing them to 1,000 for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Russia remains the main destination for Tajik youth seeking education abroad. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, more than 41.2 thousand Tajik boys and girls are currently studying outside the republic. The largest number of Tajik students – 33.17 thousand people – study in the Russian Federation.