DUSHANBE, August 29, Asia-Plus — Secondary school students from Tajikistan are invited to participate in an open competition for FLEX scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year, according to American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS) Dushanbe office.

The source at the ACTR/ACCELS Dushanbe office said that representatives from American Councils will visit regional centers in Tajikistan to conduct testing this fall.  All eligible students are invited to take part in Round One. Students who pass Round One (a short English test) will be invited to Round Two, a comprehensive English test and written essay. Only applicants who pass Round Two will receive application materials and will be interviewed.

Secondary school students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to participate in the competition. Selected students with disabilities meet the same criteria as other participants in the program.

This year, 45 students from Tajikistan studied in the US on the FLEX program.

FLEX scholarships are awarded by an independent panel of American professionals in education and international relations.  Selection will be based on merit as evidenced in a comprehensive application; teacher reference; and demonstrated preparedness for a year-long exchange experience.  FLEX scholarship recipients must return to Tajikistan after their academic year. 

The FLEX program was created by the United States Congress to extend a hand of friendship from the people of the United States of America to the people of the countries of Eurasia. It established the first large-scale, long-term exchange program for secondary school students to travel to the United States for a year. FLEX is fully funded by the U.S. Government and administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State.  Recruitment, selection, orientation, and travel arrangements for the program are organized by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.

Now in its sixteenth year, the FLEX academic year program has provided scholarships to more than 15,000 secondary school students.  In 2007-08, 1,200 students are studying in the U.S. on the FLEX program, including approximately 20 students with disabilities.  Each scholarship recipient will live for one year as a member of a U.S. host family and study in an American high school.