DUSHANBE, January 12, Asia-Plus - The ministry of education (MoE) intends to order regional and district education departments to organize special training courses for students that will enter higher educational institutions by presidential quota, Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov told journalists in Dushanbe today.   

According to him, a level of knowledge of students entering the Tajik higher educational institutions by presidential quota leaves much to be desired.    

“The quota is needed because may remote mountain areas of the country experience serious shortage of skilled specialists, including teachers, physicians and engineers,” the minister said, noting that this academic year (2006-2007), 916 students, including 480 girls, entered the country’s higher educational institutions by presidential quota.