DUSHANBE, October 13, Asia-Plus - More than 200 textbook on the Russian language and literature were handed over to school # 20 in Dushanbe Friday on behalf of the administration of Russia’s region of Ivanovo.  

After the donation-handover ceremony, the Ivanovo regional legislature (Duma) speaker Andrey Nazarov, heading the visiting Russian delegation, told Asia-Plus that they plan send more textbooks and other educational supplies to Tajikistan in the future.   Nazarov pointed to the necessity of expanding cooperation between Tajikistan and the Ivanovo region in the field of education.   

“There are eight higher educational institutions, including Ivanovo State University, Textiles Institute as well as Architecture-Construction, Medical and Chemical-Technological academies, in the city of Ivanovo,” said Nazarov, “Tajik students could study at these institutions, especially as Tajikistan specializing in cultivation of cotton and our region engaged in processing of cotton always had close cooperation, and we could train personnel for this sector of Tajikistan’s economy.” 

According to him, all these issues were touched upon during their delegation discussions’ with Tajik Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov.  “We have reach a mutual understanding on these subjects,” the Ivanovo speaker said.  

Tajikistan’s Technological University today signed cooperation agreements with three Ivanovo higher educational institutions. 

Yelena Yershova, dean of Ivanovo State University for work with foreign students, said that Tajik Technological University had signed frame agreements on cooperation with Ivanovo’s Architecture-Construction Academy, Energy Institute and Textiles University.  According to her, the similar agreement was signed with Russian-Tajik Slavic University (RTSU) on Thursday, October 12.  

At present 500 foreign students from more than 50 countries across the world are studying at higher educational institutions in Ivanovo, according to her.  “Only three of them are from Tajikistan,” said Yershova, “Tajik students are studying at Chemical-Technological Academy.”  To expand cooperation we have to conclude direct agreements between higher educational institutions, she added.  

At the same time, she noted that the government and education ministry of Tajikistan should provide financial support to Tajik students studying in Russia.  

The Russian delegation today also met with the administration of Tajik National University.