DUSHANBE, February 5, 2014, Asia-Plus -- 28 parents were punished for children’s truancy in Sughd province last year, which is 14 cases more than in 2012, according to the Sughd prosecutor’s office.

“Last year, local courts passed sentences on the parents of 28 children, who failed for months to attend school,” a source at the Sughd prosecutor’s office said.

Besides, 563 parents were implicated in not fulfilling their obligations on education of children, and administrative action was imposed upon them.

Meanwhile, a source at the Interior Ministry’s office for Sughd province says that criminal proceedings were instituted against resident of Khujand, B.Yu., on February 4.

“She is charged with preventing her son from getting basic compulsory education (Article 164 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code),” the source said, adding that her 18-year-old son has missed school since January 2009.  Investigation is under way.

The constitution obliges parents to enable their children to attend school and that all children between the ages of seven and 16 must do so.