Tajikistan to Increase Education Spending to 14 Billion Somonis in 2026

Dushanbe, The Gulf Observer: Tajikistan’s government spending on education is set to rise to 14 billion somonis in 2026, marking a 25.4 percent increase compared to 2025 and a 5.5-fold rise from 2015, the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan announced at a news conference on January 29.

In 2025, the country’s education budget stood at 10.91 billion somonis, accounting for 6.6 percent of gross domestic product and 21.1 percent of total state expenditures. This represented an increase of 2.68 billion somonis, or 32.5 percent, compared to 2024, when the education budget amounted to 8.23 billion somonis.

Allocation of Education Funds in 2025

According to the Ministry, budget allocations in 2025 were distributed across several key areas. General education received 6.2 billion somonis, reflecting a 35.6 percent increase. Funding for primary and secondary vocational education totaled 576.2 million somonis, an 18.7 percent rise, while preschool education was allocated 606.9 million somonis, up 21.9 percent.

Higher professional education received 1.51 billion somonis, representing a 22.1 percent increase. An additional 1.51 billion somonis was allocated for other sector-related expenses, marking a 40 percent increase compared to 2024.

Publication and Distribution of Textbooks

In 2025, nearly nine million copies of textbooks and educational materials were published nationwide. The Ministry reported the publication of 28 school textbooks, nine methodological guides, and 151 textbooks for higher education institutions. Special emphasis was placed on developing materials for primary education, including new textbooks in mathematics, Russian language, and literary reading for first-grade students, which have already been distributed to schools.

Cooperation with the Russian Federation

Under an intergovernmental agreement with the Russian Federation, an additional 800,000 Russian language textbooks for third- and fourth-grade students in Tajik-medium schools were printed for use in Tajikistan.

Competitive Selection of Educational Materials

Through a competitive selection process, 118 textbook titles were approved for printing in 2025, with a total circulation of 8.05 million copies. Of these, 7.15 million textbooks and educational materials were distributed to schools, lyceums, and gymnasiums, representing a 41.5 percent increase compared to 2024.