DUSHANBE, January 13, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- All the schools that are currently placed in private houses and trailers are to be transferred to normal schools in 2009-2010.

Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov remarked this, while speaking to reporters in Dushanbe on January 12.

According to him, the national program for rehabilitation and construction of general schools adopted by the government provides for transferring 136 schools placed in private houses and 101 schools placed in trailers to normal schools.  The program also provides for rehabilitation of 284 schools and construction of 75 additional buildings at existing schools.  The estimated budget for implementation of this program is 590 million somoni, the minister said.

“General schools in Dushanbe alone are experiencing shortage of 63,000 seats,” Rahmonov said, noting that 170 schools and additional classrooms with totaling 25,638 seats were built in the country last year due fund provided from all financing sources.

According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), 3,810 general schools currently function in the country.