Together with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan, and the Committee on Primary and Secondary Vocational Education under the Government of Tajikistan, UNICEF and the European Union (EU) yesterday organized a republican conference on Empowering Tajik Adolescent and Youth with Skills for Work and Life, says press release issued by UNICEF Tajikistan.

Funded by the European Union, the event brought together more than three hundred participants from across the country to discuss the implementation Adolescent Competency Framework, the digitalization of the education sector, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training achievements.  The conference also focused on the significant impacts these initiatives have on shaping the future of adolescents and youth in Tajikistan.

“Empowering young people in Tajikistan with relevant, inclusive, and future-oriented skills — including vocational, digital, entrepreneurial, and soft skills — is essential for their personal growth and the country’s sustainable development.  Let us work together — across government, partners, and communities — to scale up what works, promote gender equality, and prepare youth to lead in a green and digital future,” said Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan, Mr. Raimundas Karoblis.

Participants at the conference shared effective strategies for implementing Competency-Based Education programs, and exploring future plans to scale up the Competency-Based Learning Program.  Simultaneously, an innovative youth forum took place where participants discussed subjects related to green skills development, entrepreneurship, the startup ecosystem in Tajikistan, strategic career guidance for future readiness, AI, and safeguarding young people online in the age of cyber threats. 

The conference highlighted the criticality of digitalization in the education sector, emphasizing its importance in developing open-source resources and programs for distant and blended learning.  The role of TVET in the transition from learning to earning was also discussed, focusing on best practices in vocational training and education that empower young people to enter the workforce successfully.

“UNICEF’s approach is to build a learning pathway that enables children and adolescents to have a smooth transition from school to work life. By bridging the gap between education and employment, this initiative equips young people with foundational, transferrable, digital skills they need to transition to work,” said Mr. Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Tajikistan Representative. 

The main goal of the conference was to strengthen collaboration among partners by promoting the use and shared access to resources developed under this program.  These resources play a crucial role in enhancing job readiness and employability, thereby equipping young people with the skills needed to meet the demands of the labor market effectively.

The competency-based education reform is a cornerstone of the National Strategy for Education Development 2030, which aims to provide quality, inclusive learning opportunities for all children and adolescents, particularly those in need.

Under the European Union-funded program “Improving Skills and Competencies of Adolescent Girls and Boys for School to Work Transition in Tajikistan and National Support to Continuity of Learning within the Framework of the National Education Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19," the Adolescent Competency Framework has reached 43,000 adolescents and young people (49 percent girls), including refugees and adolescents in remote rural areas in 47 districts, and more than 300 teachers and mentors.