Thirty-six parents from Khatlon province have been punished over the first six months of this year for children’s truancy, according to the Khatlon prosecutor’s office.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against them under the provisions of Article 164 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code -- obstruction of obtaining basic compulsory general (nine-year) education.

The article stipulates that preventing children from attending school is punishable by a fine in the amount equal to 1,000 to 2,000 indicators or up to two years in prison. 

A source within the Khatlon prosecutor’s office said that over the reporting period, an administrative action has been imposed upon 775 parents for have been for breaking the law on parental responsibility.

Besides, a disciplinary action has been imposed upon 480 employees of the local education sector, the source noted.    

He further added that the rate of juvenile delinquency has declined in the area over the same six-month period due to explanatory works carried out among youth, teens, parents and employees of the education sector.  “94 juvenile crime cases have been reported in Khatlon January-June this year, which is eight cases fewer than in the same period last year,” the source said.