DUSHANBE, September 4, 204, Asia-Plus -- U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Burgess on August 29 participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for a newly constructed classroom building of Secondary School #19 in the Hamadoni District of Khatlon Province.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the new facility contains eight classrooms and is fully furnished with new desks and chalkboards.  The funding was provided by the U.S. Embassy’s Civil Affairs Team, which provides development assistance in both the health and education sectors.

The classroom building is an integral part of Secondary School #19, which started classes on September 1, 2014, and serves approximately 700 students. This building, along with the adjacent structure, allows students to attend classes in high quality facilities and removes the need to utilize the tents where the children previously received instruction.

Since 1992, the American people have provided more than $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid in support of Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.