Tajikistan will receive a nearly $20 million loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to improve schools across the country. This agreement aims to expand access to education and improve learning conditions for thousands of students.
On June 23, officials signed the loan agreement in Vienna, Austria, during a meeting of the Arab Coordination Group. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Finance, Finance Minister Faiziddin Qahhorzoda and Waleed Al-Bahar, Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, signed the agreement. The Kuwait Fund will provide about $19.4 million for a school development project aimed at supporting educational growth in Tajikistan.
The funding will be used to build new facilities and the upgrade of 10 existing schools across Dushanbe, Sughd, and Khatlon. Workers will add classrooms, laboratories, sports areas, libraries, and other learning facilities. The schools will also receive better access to electricity, heating, clean water, sanitation services, and telecommunications.
The total cost of the project is estimated at around $25.5 million. The Kuwait Fund will cover roughly 76% of the cost, while the Tajik government will pay the remaining amount. The loan has a 26-year repayment period and includes a five-year grace period before repayments start.
Education is a top priority for Tajikistan as the country works to meet the needs of its growing population. Many communities need larger and better-equipped schools to accommodate increasing student numbers. Some schools already face overcrowding, making it harder for students to learn and teachers to do their jobs effectively. The new investment aims to improve learning conditions and provide better educational opportunities for future generations.
This project will support thousands of children to access safer and modern classrooms. Better school facilities can improve attendance, support student performance, and create a more comfortable environment for learning. Officials say this project will improve education services in both urban and rural communities.
The agreement also strengthens long-standing cooperation between Tajikistan and the Kuwait. With this latest deal, the number of Kuwait Fund loans provided to Tajikistan increases to seven. Previous funding from Kuwait supported multiple projects like road construction, electricity networks, water systems, and irrigation infrastructure in Tajikistan. Total funding provided by the Kuwait to Tajikistan has now reached nearly $97 million.
The Kuwait Fund has supported development projects in many countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It regularly invests in sectors such as education, healthcare, transportation, and public services. Tajikistan and the Kuwait Fund have maintained a strong development partnership for many years.
Development partners in the Gulf region have played an important role in Tajikistan’s education sector in recent years. Other funding organizations have also supported school construction projects to help expand access to education in different parts of the country. These efforts support the government’s goal of improving educational opportunities for students across the country.
Officials believe this new project will support both education and economic growth. Better schools can help students to learn skills, prepare for future jobs, and create more opportunities in life. The investment also shows government’s efforts to improve public services and support long-term development across Tajikistan.
