DUSHANBE, July 11, 2011, Asia-Plus -- This year, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has signed some 100 cooperation agreements with education ministries form other countries and international organizations, Deputy Education Minister Farhod Rahimov, told reporters on July 11.

According to him, 12 Tajik students have been granted presidential grants this year for studying at higher educational institutions in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

In the meantime, Russia has allocated a 200-student quota to Tajikistan this year, 82 seats have been provided by Chinese higher educational institutions, and Turkey has provided 20 seats.  Besides, universities in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and some other countries have also provided seats for students from Tajikistan.

Rahimov noted that one year of study in the Russian Federation costs up to 5,000 U.S. dollars, while the cost of one year of study in the United Sates and European countries fluctuates from US$25,000 to US$30,000.  “All expenses are covered from the Presidential Reserve Fund,” Rahimov said, noting that the presidential grant, Durakhshandagon, was instituted in 2010.