Who and why is demanding money from students?

In some general education schools in the Asht district of the Sughd region, students are being asked to pay up to 50 somoni per year for the school fund. Those who disagree are threatened with law enforcement.

Photo: Internet

A resident of the Pongoza community in the Asht district, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Azda TV that since 2018, in most schools in the district, including general education school No. 40, the “Visnon” rule has been in effect, which requires each student to pay 5 somoni per month, thus, by the end of the school year, everyone must contribute 50 somoni to the school fund.

Our interlocutor added that general education school No. 40, which demands this mandatory payment the most, is in a dilapidated state, with desks and chairs dating back to the Soviet era and very dangerous in emergency situations. However, the money collected from students is not directed towards the repair of the school.

A source from Azda TV reported that the director of school No. 40, Akhmar Marasulov, in collaboration with some officials from the district’s education department, has turned the school into a business operation. He mentioned that sometimes they set up a television in the school corridor, showing inappropriate videos for students, such as those about terrorism, the civil war of the 90s, etc., and force students to pay 4 somoni for viewing.

They mainly show films recommended by the government, which criticize and vilify the opposition the most, and, “regardless of whether the students watch this or not, all students of the school are obliged to pay the full amount (i.e., 4 somoni). If, for example, parents do not agree, an employee from the 6th department (Department of Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) is always nearby,” said a resident of the Pongoza community.

The source also added that when asked why they collect money from students if the state provides the school’s budget, the school administration responds: “The state does not allocate a single penny from the budget to us.”

The school administration claims that each time other authorities check the school’s activities, each inspector needs to be paid up to 1,500 somoni (130 dollars), the school does not have such a budget, and they are forced to collect money from students.

In the end, the interlocutor told Azda TV: “What can we, the parents, do? There are no jobs, so we are forced to leave the country. If in 30 years they have not built at least one enterprise, then when will they?”

Attempts by Azda TV to find contact numbers for the director of school No. 40, Akhmar Marasulov, and officials from the district’s education department for a conversation and comments were unsuccessful. If their opinions become available, we will definitely publish them.