Tajikistan is expected to begin making shift to a 12-year-education system in 2020, according to the Ministry of Education (MoE).

An official source at a MoE says the 12-year secondary education system will give school students an opportunity to prepare themselves properly for entering higher educational institutions.

Introduction of the 12-year education system will also allow Tajikistan to join the Bologna Process (or Bologna Accords) and expand opportunities for Tajik students to get higher education in any of European countries, the source noted.

According to him, the 12-year education system will be introduced in the country gradually, until 2032.

Tajikistan was supposed to introduce the 12-year education system in 2016 but because of financial and economic crisis as well as insufficient number of schools in the country the MoE asked to postpone transition to the 12-year education system.   

Recall, Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament endorsed the bill requiring amendments to the country’s education legislation on April 28, 2010.  The amendments provided for introducing the 12-year secondary education in Tajikistan in 2016. 

Ina report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the then Education Minister of Tajikistan Abdujabbor Rahmonov noted on May 12, 2010 Tajikistan needs 356 million somoni to make nationwide shift to the 12-year secondary education.   

The 12-year education model reportedly focuses on improving access to quality education, training of highly qualified personnel, enhancing the education management and many other measures aimed at modernizing Tajikistan's education system.