HOLDING OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LOCAL EDUCATION GROUP (LEG)

On February 17, 2026, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan hosted a meeting of the Local Education Group (LEG) with the participation of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, Rahim Saidzoda, the First Deputy Minister, development partners, heads of departments and divisions of the central apparatus, heads of subordinate institutions, and representatives of international organizations.

Opening the meeting, the Minister of Education and Science stated that today's session is a logical continuation of the policy pursued by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to improve the education system, strengthen international cooperation, and implement modern management practices.

In his opening remarks, relying on the instructions of the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, the Minister of Education and Science emphasized that the education sector is a priority direction of the state's social policy, and investing in it is considered an investment in the nation's future.

It was noted that the Republic of Tajikistan, as an active member of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), has established cooperation with development partners based on the principles of coordination, adaptation, and shared responsibility. Today, the LEG platform has become an important mechanism for coordinating sector policy and implementing joint programs.

The Minister also noted that the key issues on the meeting's agenda are aimed at improving sector management, digitalizing the education system, strengthening the assessment system, introducing modern educational technologies, developing exact sciences (STEM), and adapting the sector to the impacts of climate change.

In the opening part of the meeting, the representative of the European Union in the Republic of Tajikistan, Ms. Isabel Uriz, and the Deputy Representative of UNICEF in the Republic of Tajikistan, Ms. Eri Dwivedi, also delivered speeches. They expressed their readiness to continue fruitful cooperation in improving infrastructure, enhancing the quality of education, and creating equal conditions for access to education.

It was emphasized that joint cooperation with development partners contributes to strengthening the material and technical base, increasing the capacity of teachers, and improving the content of education.

Continuing the meeting, the Head of the Department of Economics and Planning in Education and Science, A. Khojazoda, provided information on the cooperation of development partners with the Ministry. It was noted that coordinating actions and effectively using resources is an important factor in advancing sector reforms. The Head of the Department of Science and Innovation, A. Rahmonzoda, presented the national system for text originality analysis and the electronic platform eilm.tj, emphasizing its importance in ensuring transparency and improving the quality of scientific works. Additionally, the Head of the Education Information System Division, N. Ubaydullozoda, explained the mechanism for ensuring free or affordable access to LEG-approved platforms, including marifat.tj and the Education Management Information System (EMIS). It was emphasized that the digitalization of the sector and the implementation of information systems are an important foundation for effective management and evidence-based decision-making.

The meeting also presented the implementation process of the project "Improving Secondary Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" and discussed the development of the draft "National Strategy on Adaptation and Mitigation of the Impact of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector."

During the discussion segment, participants shared their views on the issues discussed and emphasized the need to continue multilateral cooperation and implement the proposals of the working groups.

Summarizing the meeting, it was stated that the outcomes of today's discussions will provide a favorable foundation for the effective implementation of the state's education policy, the strengthening of international cooperation, and the sustainable development of the country's education system.