KHUJAND, May 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The so-called ‘presidential quota’ for students to enter higher educational institutions in Tajikistan without exams has been reduced for Sughd province.

This year, Sughd province has received 292 seats in local universities under the presidential quota, which is usually granted to young people, mostly girls, from remote rural areas.

The source at the Sughd department for science and higher and secondary educational institutions, says competitively selected students will have an opportunity to study at 14 higher educational institutions in Dushanbe and Khujand; the majority of them (108 girls and 88 young men) will study at Khujand State University.  29 other students will study at Tajik State Medical University in Dushanbe.

In 2010, Sughd province received 302 seats in local higher educational institutions under the presidential quota.