2008 Embassy News
U.S. Army and Tajik construction team renovate Teacher Training Institute in Khujand
Khujand, Tajikistan. October 9, 2008. U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Necia Quast and Sughd Oblast Head of Education Saidmukhtor Jalolov toured the newly renovated Khujand Teacher Training Institute on Syr Darya Street. The United States Department of Defense provided $72,000 in funding, and a U.S. Army Civil Affairs team supervised the construction tasks completed by the Tajik "Sobhikor 2001" contracting firm.
Renovation efforts were aimed at structural improvements to help the building better withstand the severe winters in the Sughd Oblast. Tajik carpenters, masonry experts, and plumbers installed more than 140 weather-proof windows, exterior doors and interior doors; laid wooden flooring in the entrance and main hallways; replaced electrical wiring; renovated lavatory facilities; installed new light fixtures; and, painted walls. With these renovations, the facility will be able to provide year-round teacher re-certification.
In support of U.S. mission goals to enhance educational opportunities for the citizens of Tajikistan, a Civil Affairs assessment team visited in February and consulted with the Sughd Oblast Department of Education about a project that would have maximum impact. The Teacher Training Institute is the only facility of its kind in the province that provides expert pedagogical training to educators in primary and advanced education. Educators throughout the province return to the institute every five years for re-certification.
In addition to the Teacher Training Institute, the Civil Affairs Team supervised the renovation of School #17 in Isfara, and they are now completing repairs to the School for the Blind there.
United States Army Civil Affairs teams are deployed worldwide and annually oversee thousands of humanitarian assistance and host-nation capacity improvement projects, in countries like Tajikistan recovering from conflicts and in other war-torn countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
The education of Tajikistan’s citizens is a priority to the United States mission in Tajikistan. Please visit http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov/ for more information.