School fees continue. Who should put an end to these robberies?

With the approach of the end of the school year, the administrations of public schools in the Khatlon region are forcing students and even teachers to collect money for the repair of school buildings.

A source from the Yavan district, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Azda TV on Monday that the principal of school No. 9 in the village of Chirogchi gathered the parents of students and organized a parent meeting. During the meeting, he asked the parents to collect at least 50 somoni from each child for the repair of the school building.

When this request from the principal caused discontent among the parents, he stated that it was not his request, but a “directive from above,” thereby calming the parents. However, our informant stated that usually the principal, under the guise of the phrase “directive from above,” collects money for various purposes.

According to the source, the principal stated that this directive comes from the deputy chairman of the Yavan district, Sayokhat Abdullozoda. According to the principal, Sayokhat Abdullozoda instructed all principals and responsible persons of educational institutions to repair schools at the expense of parents.

“I have one request and wish for you. Everyone knows that it is prohibited to collect money for the repair of schools. But I do not want our children to study in dirty classrooms. I ask you to help us with the repair of the classrooms. I hope that you are a great force and will not refuse to support this noble cause,” said the principal of school No. 9 in the Yavan district to the parents.

Our source also reported that the principal of school No. 10 in this district, Sobirov Safar, also held a parent meeting and demanded 50 somoni from each student. However, when the parents protested this statement, the principal was forced to reduce the amount to 20-30 somoni. The principal of school No. 10 also explained the collections as a “directive from above.”

This information comes against the backdrop of numerous complaints from parents of students from various schools that had previously been sent to the editorial office of Azda TV. At that time, parents also complained about unjustified collections by the school administration.

Even some teachers in correspondence with the Azda.tv editorial office reported that school administrations are putting pressure on them. According to them, they are forced to collect money from students, and sometimes the entire teaching staff is compelled to pay out of their own pockets, which leads teachers to leave the education system and seek work elsewhere.

Numerous complaints from parents and teachers about monetary collections in schools come amid statements from representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, including Minister Saidzoda Rahim Hamro, who have repeatedly emphasized that education in public schools is free and the collection of funds from parents is prohibited. However, school principals and responsible officials of the district administration are still engaged in collecting funds for the repair of schools.  

Many parents are quite dissatisfied with this situation and are wondering who can prevent this arbitrariness and lawlessness. Although the Ministry of Education and Science has banned fees in schools, school administrations are not planning to stop this practice.  

Moreover, according to the official statistics of the Government of Tajikistan, in 2025, more than 21% of the state budget was allocated specifically to the education sector. This means that no other sector receives as much budgetary funding. However, despite this, the level of bribery and fees in the education system remains high. At the same time, no competent government agency is effectively curbing such actions by school administrations.

The editorial team of Azda TV was unable to obtain comments from the directors of schools No. 9 and No. 10 in the Yavan district. If we receive additional information, comments, or opinions from the directors of these schools or a response from the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, we will definitely publish it.