DUSHANBE, July 7, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Schools in Tajikistan are experiencing an acute shortage of teachers of the Russian language, chemistry, physics, biology and basic science, Ministry of Education and Science, Nouriddin Saidov, announced at news conference in Dushanbe on July 7.

“166 schools, which are completely Russian-language or with two languages of studies, now function in Tajikistan and more than 55,000 students are studying at these schools,” said the minister.  “If you remember, Russian parliament speaker, Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, has visited Tajikistan this year and we have discussed the issue of shortage of teachers of the Russian language in the country.  She did not support our idea of sending Russian-language teachers to Tajikistan, saying that Tajikistan itself is able to train Russian-language teachers”.

According to him, Matviyenko, however, noted that Russia could support the Russian-language schools in Tajikistan through sending electronic versions of textbooks for 11th grade students that would be published in Tajikistan with subject to the national component.