State independence marked a new page in the history of Tajik statehood and enabled a people with a millennia-old and ancient civilization to establish an independent national state and raise its flag on the international stage on behalf of independent Tajikistan.
Independence made it possible, within a short historical period, to ensure the development of all sectors of the national economy, including education and science, on a national basis. Conditions were created for the construction of new educational institutions, the improvement of the level and quality of education in accordance with the requirements of modern times, and, consequently, the creation of favorable opportunities for educating a new generation and training highly qualified specialists.
For the development of the education sector, educational institutions have been constructed and renovated, and learning conditions for schoolchildren and students have been significantly improved. State education development programs have been adopted, with particular attention being paid to the introduction of modern technologies, professional development of teachers, and raising the level of knowledge at all stages of education.
In his annual addresses, the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, pays particular attention to schools and education, placing the development of the sector at the center of his social and cultural policy.
In particular, in the Address of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Majlisi Oli dated 16 December 2025, respected Emomali Rahmon stated: “From the first days of my activities as Head of State to the present day, I have declared the support and development of science and education a priority direction and, for more than three decades, have paid primary and constant attention to these vital sectors.”
Therefore, throughout the years of independence, with the support of the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, the education sector of Tajikistan has achieved unprecedented progress. The establishment of the Presidential quota for residents of remote regions of the country, benefits for studying at higher educational institutions abroad, the opening in the capital of representative offices of higher educational institutions from developed countries, calls for the construction of preschool institutions in all villages, strengthening the role of teachers in society, providing benefits to young teachers, and other initiatives of the Government of the country have contributed to the development of the sector.
The annual celebration of Knowledge Day with the participation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, has become a symbol of respect for science, knowledge and education, as well as an occasion to review the sector's work and provide guidance for the subsequent period.
Thanks to independence and freedom, lasting peace and stability, and national unity, all the necessary conditions and opportunities have been created in our beloved Tajikistan for the younger generation and youth to acquire knowledge and education.
According to the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, all the country's progress and achievements, including in the field of education, as well as the dignified and peaceful life of the people, primarily depend on lasting peace, tranquility and political stability. Respected Emomali Rahmon has described peace as the foundation of the well-being of the people, the happiness of every family, and the progress of the state and nation, including the development of education.
As noted in the speech of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, at the opening of the modern and well-designed building of General Secondary Education Institution No. 105 in Shohmansur District of Dushanbe on Knowledge Day: “Overall, during the period of independence, 4,135 educational institution buildings with 1.8 million places have been constructed and commissioned in the country, at a cost of 8.4 billion somoni.”
The Government of the country is continuously increasing funding for this key sector, and its total annual amount accounts for more than 21 percent of state budget expenditures. Nearly 14 billion somoni has been allocated from the state budget for education in 2026, which is 25.4 percent more than in 2025 and five and a half times more than ten years earlier, in 2015. The regular increase in the salaries of education-sector employees and the improvement of conditions in educational institutions are clear evidence of attention to the social well-being of teachers and, consequently, to improving the quality of education and upbringing in educational institutions.
One of the important steps taken by the state to support teachers is increasing their salaries. During the years of independence, the salaries of education-sector employees have increased gradually by more than twenty times.
From the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year, the official salaries of employees of preschool and general secondary education institutions were increased by 30 percent. From 1 September 2026, the official salaries of employees of educational institutions, including preschool and general secondary education institutions, will be increased by 25 percent, while those of employees of other educational institutions will be increased by 20 percent. Funding for this important sector is increasing year by year, contributing to improved learning conditions, sector infrastructure and the economic well-being of teachers.
Care and support for teachers create a foundation for addressing staff shortages, ensuring favorable conditions for education-sector employees and improving students' level of knowledge. A teacher is a person who educates and raises society. These measures are aimed precisely at encouraging teachers to further develop their knowledge and skills and keep pace with the requirements of the times.
As the Head of State emphasizes: “The key to all achievements and progress, as well as intellectual independence, is the teacher and educator and his or her spiritual and scientific potential. Therefore, the effective organization of educational and upbringing work by teachers creates an opportunity to raise the level of students' thinking, knowledge and worldview so that they can keep pace with the times.”
From the earliest days of independence, special attention was paid to strengthening the legal and regulatory framework of the education sector. On this basis, important documents have been adopted whose content meets the requirements of modern times. The first important document in the sector is the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Education.” Taking into account the development of society and changes in modern times, a number of amendments and additions have been made to this law, aimed at improving the quality of education and upbringing and bringing the documentation of the country's education sector into line with the requirements of the modern world.
At the same time, the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the Status of the Teacher” represents an important stage in advancing education reforms and improving conditions for teachers. In this process, the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the Status of the Teacher” serves the interests of teachers, students and the education sector as a whole. It is emphasized that the status of the teacher has priority in the national education system, because a teacher is a person who educates the younger generation through the light of science and enlightenment and gives meaning to the development of the state and nation. The purpose of the law is to enhance the status of teachers, ensure their rights and social guarantees, create a stable legal foundation for professional activities, and support the development of teachers' abilities and talents.
In addition, during the period of state independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, a number of important state strategies and programs for the development of education have been adopted. Their main objectives are to improve the quality of education and upbringing, improve learning conditions, develop educational institutions and train qualified specialists.
State programs cover various areas of education, including the development of preschool, secondary and higher education, professional development of teachers, the introduction of modern technologies into the educational process, and improving the literacy level of the population. The adoption of such documents is of great importance for defining the main directions of the long-term development of education. They take into account issues related to improving the quality of education, using information technologies, developing vocational education, and adapting the education system to the requirements of modern times.
The Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, constantly addresses the honorable people of the country, including the patriotic youth and adolescents of Tajikistan, emphasizing that we must, with gratitude for our homeland and statehood, always remain united and cohesive and, with a strong sense of national identity, direct all our strength and energy toward the prosperity of our homeland and the development of our sovereign state.
Based on all these efforts and support, we, as employees of the education and science sector, taking the guidance and instructions of the Leader of the Nation as the basis of our work, should make a meaningful contribution to educating the younger generation, strengthening civic awareness and national identity, and preserving cultural values.
Mavlododova Asligul — Leading Specialist of the International Relations Division of the Agency for Supervision in the Field of Education and Science under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan
