October 6, 2025

Nurturing Safe Learning Environments in Tajikistan

By Seelai Karzai

For many years, Central Asia Institute has supported early childhood education across remote, mountainous communities of Tajikistan, particularly in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) region. This support includes building preschools, renovating classrooms for safety and optimal learning, and training preschool teachers.

Why Early Childhood Education is Important

Many studies have documented the proven benefits of early childhood education on a child’s outcomes in terms of improved overall school performance, development of social skills, likelihood of continuing on to higher education, and even increased income as an adult. Within a child’s first six years of life, their brain undergoes rapid growth. As a result, this period is crucial for learning and forming the foundation for future success¹. High-quality early education helps children develop essential skills such as acquiring language, problem-solving, and healthy social interaction, helping them to build curiosity, self-confidence, and a positive attitude toward learning. Research also shows that early childhood education can help bridge achievement gaps caused by disparities in socioeconomic status². Providing all students with a strong foundation for future learning helps level the playing field, fostering a more equitable schooling environment and ensuring that they have the chance to reach their full potential.

Our work in Tajikistan

Central Asia Institute is currently in the process of renovating two schools in Tajikistan, in order to provide safe and healthy classrooms for preschoolers. Mahbuba Qurbonalieva, country director of Central Asia Institute-Tajikistan (CAIT), gave us an update about the ongoing and planned restoration of School #7 and School #8.

According to the Aga Khan Development Network, there are nearly 293 ECD centers in operation across the GBAO region³. The presence of these local, easily-accessible centers has increased early learning opportunities for children aged 3-6 from 9% to 65%, a truly significant marker of success in a region that has limited resources and where systemic poverty hinders the building of schools.

CAIT also recently received formal approval from CAI to begin the renovation project for School #8. Though work has not yet begun, anticipation is building for the multi-year construction project.

And, thanks to the generous support of so many donors, Preschool #2 is flourishing, serving more than 120 children. Mahbuba proudly tells us, “The facility continues to play a vital role in providing early childhood education in the community.” In August, the school will shut down briefly for a scheduled summer break, and in September, students turning six years old will transition to primary school, creating space for a new group of eager students. As we look to the future, Central Asia Institute remains committed to the critical work of fostering the development of young children across the GBAO region in Tajikistan.

¹ https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/

² https://jenni.uchicago.edu/papers/Heckman_Masterov_RAE_2007_v29_n3.pdf

³ https://the.akdn/en/where-we-work/central-asia/tajikistan/early-childhood-development-tajikistan

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