DUSHANBE, March 6, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has endorsed a new draft law on education.

A regular sitting of the fourth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on March 6.

Presenting the bill, the Minister of Education, Nouriddin Saidov, noted that the new education law provided for laying legal, organizational, social and economic foundations of the education system in the country as well as protection of the constitutional right of citizens to education.

According to him, the law is aimed at facilitating reforms in the education sector, raising the level of knowledge of students and bringing the country’s education system into compliance with international standards.  

“In 2012, the country’s budget earmarked some 1.608 billion for the education sector and this year’s budget projects expenditure of 2 billion somoni in the education sector,” said the minister.  “1,200 new schools have been built in the country over the years of independence and some 1.7 million students now study in 15,000 comprehensive secondary schools in Tajikistan.”

The new education law reportedly introduces new notions such as baccalaureate, MA course, education for adults, credit education for gifted children, and nostrification (recognition of foreign degrees).