KHUJAND, June 9, 2014, Asia-Plus -- One more parent form the northern Sughd province has been punished for children’s truancy, the Interior Ministry’s office in Suhgd reported on June 9.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the 40 year-old resident of the Sabriston jamoat in the Istaravshan district, Z.A., under the provisions of Article 164 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – preventing person from getting nine-year basic education; an investigation is under way.

His son, 8th grade student B.A., has reportedly missed school from September 2013.

Last year, courts in Sughd province instituted criminal proceedings against 28 local parents whose children failed for months to attend school.  Administrative action was imposed upon 338 parents, the source said.  Many of those parents said that poverty prevented them from sending their children to school.

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.