DUSHANBE, July 14, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Payments for studying at universities on contractual basis have been raised in a number of universities this year, Minister of education Abdujabbor Rahmonov said.

According to him, payments for contract students have been raised, first of all, in economic and faculties.  The payments have been raised by more than 30 percent, from $1,200 per year in the 2008-09 academic year to $1,800 in the new academic year, the minister said.

Rahmonov noted that the main reason for raising payments for contract students was to improve the material and technical basis of universities and raise wages of teachers.  “We realize that that the situation is not easy due to the ongoing global financial crisis but our universities should not be behind universities of neighboring countries,” said Rahmonov, “We are now behind, especially in terms of teaching new information and other state-of-the-arts technologies.”

To achieve these goals we have raised payments for contract students, he said.  According to him, the amount of payment for studying at higher educational institutions on contractual basis is regulated by the agreement signed by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade -- On the Rules of Setting Cost and Paid Services Rendered by Educational Facilities.

“I realize that increase in payments for contract students at some universities do not comply with social opportunities of society, however, demand for the specialties, for which payments have been raised, is very high,” said the minister, “That is why heads of some universities are forced to accept students above the planned number.  This year, the ministry will control in order to eliminate such cases.”

28 higher educational institutions currently function in Tajikistan.  This year, they plan to accept some 28,000 freshmen.  Annual payments set for contract students fluctuate from $200 to $1,800.