Several school graduates and their parents have approached Asia-Plus with complaints that in the capital and some regions of Tajikistan, school principals are forcing graduates to submit documents to participate in entrance exams at the National Testing Center (NTC).  Exactly one year ago, students raised the same complaints, and both then and now, officials deny the allegations of coercion.

"I don't have the means to study, but they are forcing me to submit my documents!" Ismoil Yorov, a graduate of secondary school No. 64 located in the Luchobi Bolo neighborhood of Dushanbe’s Sino district, complained that he was forced to submit documents for participation in the entrance exams at the NTC.  There are 25 students in his class, and everyone except him has already submitted their documents.

"They told me to go to school No. 25 on Ismoili Somoni Street and submit my documents to the NTC. The teachers said I had to bring a bank receipt, and only then would I receive my diploma; otherwise, they wouldn't give it to me," Ismoil says.

He notes that he really wants to become a student, but due to financial difficulties, he has to work to support his family. "My father passed away, and I live only with my mother. I really want to continue my education, but I need to work to support myself and my mother.  Since they are forcing me, I will submit the documents, but after graduation, I will go to work in Russia," he said.

Meanwhile, Zafar Vatanov, the principal of secondary school No. 64, told Asia-Plus that the school administration does not force graduates to participate in the entrance exams, but only conducts explanatory work.

"We do not apply pressure on them.  Even on the blackboards in the classrooms, we have posted a message stating that submitting documents is voluntary.  Our task is to teach and form personalities.  There are 24 students in this class, and 7 of them have not submitted documents yet.  We direct them so they do not stay on the street, to submit their documents, and find their path in life in the future," Vatanov explains.

The school principal added: "The administration and teachers did not tell the graduates that 'if they do not bring NTC documents, they will not receive their diploma.'  Those who have not submitted their documents will still receive their diplomas," he assured.

"The director said: 'I won't give you your diploma until you bring the receipt.'" Emomali Musoyev, a graduate of secondary school No. 65 in the village of Zarkorani in Vose district of Khatlon province, complained about his director.

"Those responsible at the school told us every day at morning meetings to submit our documents to the NTC as soon as possible.  One day, the director directly scolded me for not submitting my documents yet.  When I explained my difficult situation, he kicked me out of the school and said, 'I won’t give you your diploma until you bring the receipt,'" says Emomali, speaking to Asia-Plus.

Emomali says he asked his homeroom teacher for more time to gather the necessary amount for submitting the documents.  “There are 32 students in our class, and almost all my classmates have already submitted their documents.  The photos of the three or four of us who have not yet submitted were posted on the bulletin board in the school corridor,” he says.

He adds that when he reminded the director that submitting documents to the NTC is a voluntary decision, the director replied that it was “an order from above, and it must be followed.”

Asia-Plus was unable to get comments from the school administration.

An anonymous employee of the Ministry of Education and Science also shared information about the “order from above.”  He stated that local authorities (municipal and district governments) have developed plans for each school and required the directors to implement them.

To participate in the NTC, 9th-grade graduates must pay 320 somonis, and 11th-grade graduates must pay 370 somonis.  The money must be deposited in the state-run bank Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank), and the receipt, along with the necessary documents, must be submitted to the Center.

Participation in testing is voluntary!  Abdulbosit Shodiniyo, the first deputy director of the NTC, reiterated that participation in testing is a voluntary decision for the graduate, and this point is also stated in the "Applicant's Guide."

"To date, the NTC has not received written complaints about forcing graduates to participate in testing, but we will conduct an investigation into every such complaint," he said.

He also promised that the Center would hold discussions with the leadership of educational institutions and local education departments, and if the allegations are confirmed, explanatory work would be conducted.

Shodiniyo added that every year, schools across the country clarify that submitting documents to the NTC is a voluntary decision.

It is worth noting that there has not yet been a single case where the Ministry of Education or the leadership of the Testing Center has acknowledged any instances of coercion.