Tajikistan: Revitalizing learning at School No.53

Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

Story highlights

  • In Tajikistan, many school buildings are in disrepair, with outdated facilities and limited capacity to adapt to the high demand for education.
  • GPE and partners, including the Islamic Development Bank and UNICEF, are supporting the government to transform the learning experience for Tajikistan's students.
  • By the end of 2024, over 18,000 students in the capital city of Dushanbe and the Khatlon region will have access to new or rehabilitated, fully equipped school buildings.
Mpa of Tajikistan

This story has been written in collaboration with IsDB and UNICEF.

Maryam Jurayeva
“We love studying in this new school.”
Maryam Jurayeva
Grade 10 student, School No. 53

In 2023, School No. 53 was rebuilt, transforming the educational experience for students and teachers alike. Previously, School No. 53 lacked modern technology such as digital whiteboards and computers connected to high-speed internet.

The school lacked enough space to accommodate the large number of students while the school building required reconstruction due to its unsafe status.

Thanks to an initiative jointly funded by GPE, IsDB, and the government of Tajikistan, 68 schools in Dushanbe and the Khatlon region are being constructed or rehabilitated, ensuring all classrooms are equipped with digital whiteboards, computers with high-speed internet and new furniture.

The school building improvements also include science labs and vocational skills rooms. New water supply, electricity, heating and security installations are added to each school, along with separate toilet facilities for boys and girls.

  • A vocational skills room at School 53 in Dushanbe. Students learn sewing, woodwork, cooking and other practical skills here.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • The vocational skills room at School 53 in Dushanbe, where students can learn woodwork skills.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

School No. 53 is one of the 19 schools already completed, where learning has quickly become interactive and student friendly.

  • Due to the unsafe state of the building, School 53 in Dushanbe was recently demolished and rebuilt, and equipped with modern technology and a science laboratory to improve the learning experience for students.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • School 53. Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev
Lutfullo Abdulloev
“This new school makes not only the students happy, but also the parents and us teachers.”
Lutfullo Abdulloev
Teacher of history and law, School No. 53
Zokirova Mehrangez
“For more than a month, my children talked about this new school: its modern conditions, the way classes are conducted and its beauty compared to the previous one.”
Mehrangez
Mother of two students at School No. 53

New lab to stimulate interest in science

Khamza Umarov
“Physics lessons have become more effective and comprehensive. We use the new equipment, showing the students all kinds of physics experiments.”
Khamza Umarov
Physics teacher, School No. 53

For grade 10 students, learning about electricity circuits during a science class is now fun and interactive, but this was not always the case.

The lack of labs and equipment was a challenge for teachers, who were not able to hold practical lessons or give demonstrations.

  • Khamza Umarov uses the new digital blackboard to teach physics to grade 10 students at School 53 in Dushanbe.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • Khamza Umarov demonstrates a physics principle to grade 10 students at School 53 in Dushanbe.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev
Khamza Umarov, physics teacher, Secondary School No. 53
“When there was not enough equipment, we were teaching and giving only theoretical information to the students. Now we have the digital whiteboard and we are able to demonstrate experiments. We use the internet for additional learning not found in the textbooks.”
Khamza Umarov
Physics teacher, School No. 53

Thanks to the new labs, students are active participants in their own learning, and their interest in science has increased significantly.

Muhammad Hakimov
“Now in chemistry lessons, we use chemicals and watch how reactions occur. Seeing all these things with my own eyes makes it interesting. In biology, we use visual aids and see the structure of the human brain or body parts.”
Muhammad Hakimov
Grade 10 student, School No. 53

  • Valieva Gulnora, chemistry teacher at School 53 in Dushanbe, during class.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • Students in their new chemistry classroom at School 53 in Dushanbe.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev
Khamza Umarov, physics teacher, Secondary School No. 53
“I like that the students can hold, see and use everything illustrated in their physics textbooks. When they see things with their own eyes and experience them, then the information is more strongly imprinted in their memories. Their interest in learning and their curiosity have increased.”
Khamza Umarov
Physics teacher, School No. 53

A digital library to support better learning and teaching

Maryam Jurayeva
“I especially like the digital library in our school's new state-of-the-art building. We can use computers and the internet there. We love studying in this new school.”
Maryam Jurayeva
Grade 10 student, School No. 53

The new computers with access to high-speed internet are helping students to acquire digital skills and to benefit from the opportunities of information technology.

Teachers are also benefiting from these computers by improving their IT skills and complementing teaching practices.

Tajikistan’s Digital Transformation of the Education System Roadmap is guiding the introduction of digital solutions to the sector. New electronic libraries are now available with resources for teachers and students, including video lessons.

A new teacher professional development system will involve a mix of online and in-person courses.

  • The new digital library at School 53 in Dushanbe enables students to learn about digital technology.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • Grade 10 students Muhammad Hakimov (front) and Maryam Jurayeva (behind) study at the new digital library at School 53 in Dushanbe. “I especially like the digital library in our school's new state-of-the-art building. We can use computers and the internet there,” says Maryam.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

  • Grade 10 students Maryam Jurayeva (left) and Muhammad Hakimov (right) study at the new digital library at School 53 in Dushanbe.
    Credit: UNICEF/Manucher Ruziev

By the end of 2024, thanks to the efforts of the government of Tajikistan and the support of GPE, and IsDB over 18,000 students will have access to new or rehabilitated, fully equipped school buildings.

June 2024