DUSHANBE, October 18, 2012, Asia-Plus – The first deputy minister of education says the Ministry of Education does not oppose seminars and workshops organized by international organizations if they do not impede the educational process.

“Doors of the Ministry of Education are open for international organizations and the Ministry does not oppose seminars, conferences and workshops organized by international organizations if they do not hinder the educational process,” Farhod Rahimov, First Deputy Minister of Education, told Asia-Plus in an interview, commenting on an instruction prohibiting students from attending seminars and workshops organized by foreign and international groups.

“On contrary, we are ready to support them if the events are aimed at raising attainment of students,” said Tajik official.  “But we oppose those events that distract students from studying.”

“Many students have missed lectures for attending seminars and trainings lately while under the country’s law on higher and post-diploma vocational education, students who missed 35 hours of lectures are expelled from a higher educational institution,” noted Rahimov.  “That is why we have issued the instruction banning students from attending seminars and workshops organized by international organizations.  But it does not mean that we are against the international organizations themselves.  They have just to work with students under the preliminary agreement with the Ministry of Education.”

He has explained that international organizations must inform the ministry of events they arrange and provide the list of students that will be involved in those events.  Besides, they must explain what will be benefits for students of attending these seminars or conferences.

Rahimov added that the ministry is currently collaborating with more than 30 organizations under written agreement.  “In out-of-lecture hours students are free to attend any seminars, trainings and conferences,” the deputy minister noted.

We will recall that signed by Farhod Rahimov, the instruction under the number of 05/2-414 was issued on October 8.  The document, in particular, notes that holding by international organizations of various conferences, seminars and meetings with participation of students contradicts Tajikistan’s legislation.

The ministry has instructed university administrations to strictly control participation of their students in gatherings arranged by foreign international organizations and inform students of the instruction.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that Alidod Rasoulov, a department head at the Ministry of Education, said on October 16 that an international organization has recently arranged the foreign trip of a group of Tajik students despite the ministry''s refusal to permit such trip.  Rasoulov reportedly expressed concern over the "agendas" of foreign organizations, which hold seminars for students "who should be attending their classes instead."