Parent and out-of-school youth Roster

Please complete the roster below and insert as pages 1 and 2 of the documentation for each focus group.
Focus group with parents
Male ____ Female __8__ Date: _20.04________ Name of the secondary school: _________Barjangal_________________ City/town: ___________________
Facilitator: ____Zamonova S._______________________________ Note Taker :____________________________________
1.
Name
(No
need
to
provide
family
name)
Parent or
out-of-
school
youth?

Parent..1
Out of
school
youth..2





2.Age
3. Main
language
spoken
at home
1. Tajik
2. Russian
3. Kyrgyz
4. Uzbek
Other
4. Education
(highest level
achieved with
success)

None1
Primary (grade 4)..2
Secondary
incomplete (grade
9)3
Secondary complete
(grade11).4
University:
bachelor5
University: masters
or more..6
5.In your job you
are:
1. Self-employed
2. Employer
3. Legislator /
Senior official /
Manager
4. Agricultural
wage worker
5. Nonagricultural
skilled wage
worker (clerk,
plant or
machine
operator or
assembler,
technician or
associated
professional)
6. Nonagricultural
unskilled wage
worker
7. Armed forces
8. Retired
9. Not working
and not retired
10. Deceased
(write occupation
& then code)
For codes9-10, skip
to Q7
6.Sector of occupation:

Agriculture and fishing 1
Manufacturing / Construction
and public works
2
Mining and energy 3

Commerce / Transport /
Communication
4
Tourism and restaurants
5
Banking and insurance
6
Reparation and house
services 7
Social or cultural services 8
Education and health and
administrative services
9

7. Number
of children

for out-of-
school
youth:
number of
brothers
and sisters

8. Number
(and sex) of
children in
basic
school
(grades 1-
9)

for out-of-
school
youth:
number of
brothers
and sisters

9.Number
of children
who
received
tutoring in
basic
school
(grades 1-
9)

for out-of-
school
youth:
number of
brothers
and sisters

10. Number
(and sex) of
children in
secondary
school
(grades 10-
11)

for out-of-
school
youth:
number of
brothers
and sisters



Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls
1.

Suman 44 5 4 11 0 4 1 3 0 0 0 9 0
2.

Izzatkhonim 52 5 3 10 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
3. Safarmo 48 5 3 10 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0

4.

Guldona 37 5 3 10 0 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
5.

Zarina 25 5 3 10 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6.

Navruzmo 20 5 3 10 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7.

Jumla 49 5 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8.

Bonu 18 5 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9.
10.

















Name (No need to
provide family
name)
11.Number of
children who
received tutoring
in secondary
school

for out-of-school
youth: number of
brothers and
sisters

12.Number of
children (and sex)
in university

for out-of-school
youth: number of
brothers and
sisters

13.Number of
children with
State-funded seats
(If yes, indicate
type)

for out-of-school
youth: number of
brothers and
sisters


14. Number of
children who
received tutoring
in university

for out-of-school
youth: number of
brothers and
sisters

15. Only for
parents: number
of children expect
to attend
university
16.[Skip if not a parent with a child expecting to go
university:] I feel that I have all the necessary
information for my child to take the new centralized
university exam and apply to university.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Somewhat agree
4. Somewhat disagree
5. Disagree
6. Strongly disagree
Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls
Suman 1 2
Izzatkhonim 1 2
Safarmo 1 1 1 1 1
Guldona 1 1
Zarina 3
Navruzmo 1 2
Jumla 1
Bonu

1 1
9.






Parents and out-of-school youth FGD: Interview guide

[Read:] Thank you for joining us today. I am with a private research firm which is independent from
the government. We will be discussing your views about education and also the upcoming changes to
the university entrance exams.
This focus group is part of a larger study on these topics that is being conducted with students,
parents and educators here in this area and in other parts of Tajikistan. Your participation today is
voluntary and will remain strictly confidential. We will not be using your names in any publication
with the information that we collect today. We very much hope you will feel free to express your
opinions and share your experiences openly. You are of course free not to answer questions or to
leave at any time, but we would like you to stay and contribute actively to the whole discussion
today. The views and experiences of each one of you are very important to us.
Are there any questions before we begin?

Module 1: Education decisions, new centralized university exam and university fees (30
minutes)

1. Lets begin our discussion today by having you each introduce yourself and say a word or two
about your goals for your childrens education. For our young people in the group, please also
introduce yourself and tell us briefly about what you specialized in when you were in high
school or university.
Suman: My name is Suman. My daughter applied to university at English faculty. She passed the test at
university. Unfortunately we did not have money and she could not study at university. They wanted
from us 1500 USD. Then she failed. She left Khorog. She told me that now she will study English in
Moscow in one of Agha Khan Foundation courses. My next son also wants to apply to university.
Izatkhonim: My name is Izzatkhonim. I have two sons, one studies at the university, the next is not that
good, however I hope, he will study driving somewhere.
My name is Safarmo. One of my son studies at the Slavonic University of Dushanbe. The younger also
wants to study, he applied to the university, and however I dont know whether, he will be successful or
not.
I am Guldona: My daughter would like to study at university and continue to study, however there is not
just the faculty of law in Khorog State University. We have some financial problems, of her admission to
Dushanbe universities, but we will try our best to help her to continue her studying.
I am Jumla. My son studies at 10
th
grade. After graduating he wants to apply to Athletic (sport) school of
Dushanbe. Another son of me is 22 years old. He applied to university and did not pass the entrance
exam and because of our financial problems he migrated to Russia.
Fasilitator: [For the younger part of our auditorium, we would like you to introduce yourself]
My name is Bonu. Last year I applied to Medical University, but I failed the exam. This was not because I
failed, however they wanted us money and knowledge did not considered. I thought that my knowledge
was perfect to study at medical university. This year preparatory course and I would like to apply to
university this year. I hope I will be successful. I believe in me.
My name is Zarina. I wanted to study at humanitarian science, English language. This year I plan to
apply.
My name is Navruzmo. I studied at University of Central Asia in Khorog, Tajikistan. Then I wanted to
study at Khorog State University. Because of financial problems I could not study at university. The
entrance inofficial fee was 1800 USD. This year I would like to apply, but I did not apply yet.

2. In your family, would you say that it is the mother or father who mainly makes the major
decisions about how long a daughter will continue with their education? What different factors
are they weighing for daughters education?
Suman: Both mother and father. Before it was different in our time. Now whatever want our
children their interests are considered fully? In our time there was a belief that girls will not
study, however when she get married she will study.
Jumla: All father, mother and daughter.
Bonu: Parents and children.
Suman: Mostly, the place of staying is important to consider. Girls need place to proper and safe
place to sleep and study. Before it was different. Our parents told us to leave book and go do
some other work, like feeding cattle. Now it is different. I did all the work myself and freed my
girl from studying in order to study.


a. How about sons, would you say that it is the mother or father who mainly makes the
major decisions about how long a son will continue with their education? What
different factors are they weighing for sons education?
Suman: For boys major decisions are made by boys themselves and their parents.
Izzatkhonim: First of all it is their decisions then their parents, if they have knowledge and ability
parents try their best to help them.
Jumla: For sure it is their decisions and then parents decisions.

Izzatmo: For boys as well as for girls place of staying and money is needed. For example my son
studies in Dushanbe and his father works hard in order to help him financially. We send him money,
all the money goes for his studying. Sometime from Moscow relatives send them money.
If the students are not considered financially, they simple cannot study.


3. How well do you think you high school is preparing students for their lives after they graduate and
transition into more studies, working or raising a family?
Jumla: The most important role plays school. It played important role in our life and in their lives
two.
Nawruzmo: School tries its best; however it depends on students and students parents.
Bonu: School prepares us well. I believed in me. All the lessons were perfect. Teachers were very
good. We studied well. One of my teachers, Mirdawlat, worked with me very hard and helped me a
lot. He told me everything he knew; unfortunately I am not studying now. This year I would like to
apply. I worked very hard. My parents are bringing me all opportunities.
Safarmo: They are doing their best, lessons are good.
Suman: Some other students participate in Olympiads. This also prepares them for Entrance
University and simply for life.
Jumla: It is not the fault of teachers are doing very good, just our teachers do not try harder. Mostly
they do not have interests. They play volleyball or football in most of their free times.
Sararmo: Girls are also doing better. Most of her time, she spends studying.
Jumla: Girls are generally doing better than boys.
Navruzmo: Our school prepared us well. The teachers were good. It really was dependent on us. We
sometime took additional classes.

4. Do you think teachers treat some students differently from others? [If issues below do not emerge
without prompting, please ask them:]

Izzatmo: The teachers cannot be bad. Our teachers were very kind. Before, teachers were
better. They were very qualified , now they are not trying their best.
Safarmo: The demand and attitude of teachers is the same for all the students
a. For instance, are poorer and better off students sometimes treated differently?
All in unison: No all the student is the same.

b. Do you think girls and boys are sometimes treated differently? If so, how?
Safarmo: I think that boys and girls in schools are treated in the same way.
Suman: Both boys and girls are treated in the same way.

5. I would now like to jump ahead to university. For the parents in the group who have their
children finishing high school in the next year or two, what factors will be most important to you
when deciding on whether, where and what your child will study?

- Nawruzmo: Mostly place of staying is considered. For example, if we have relatives or place in
Khorog we can go and study there.
- Safarmo: In Khorog studying is cheaper in Dushanbe it is very difficult.
- Suman: Also our children choose the university themselves and we agree with them, even if we
have financial problems. We can borrow money or take credit from banks.
- Zarrina: If he or she has will we will support him.
a. [Ask outside of Dushanbe only:] How will the distance of a university shape your
decisions about whether a child would attend university and which one they would
attend? (Will this be different for a young woman compared to a young man?)

Suman: Distance play significant role. We send our children and try hard to support them
financially and psychologically.
Safarmo: My son studies in Dushanbe. He stays with my brother. Some other students rent
apartment and stay there.
Nawruzmo: Some people stay at university dormitory, however it cost a lot.
Safarmo: Some student rent apartment together, which will be cheaper for all of them. They
also work as well. My son studies and work in order to pay for his expendures.
Suman: Whoever, wants to study, distance does not matter.


6. Are high school teachers helpful with the university admissions process? Do teachers help with
contacting universities?
Suman: Teachers help with everything. They inform about entrance exam, entrance subject.
Safarmo: Teachers teach additional subjects. If student goes to teachers, for sure, teachers help.
Guldonaz daughter takes additional classes for Entrance University. She takes courses on history. It
depends on student if he wants teacher will help him.
Safarmo: Teachers also advise the student to choose their profession.


7. Please raise your hand if you have heard about the new university entrance exam? [Facilitator:
Please record number here __8__ and enter this in the excel sheet] If yes, do you know when it
will take place? __7_____ [record number of correct answers. Ask for FGD members who are
knowledgeable about the exam to explain the exam to others and clarify facts about the exam when
needed. Make notes of the explanations provided by students and whether those who have heard
about the exam actually understand how it works].

a. How have you heard about the new centralized university entrance exam?
Suman: We got information from the new centralized university entrance exam from TV and friends and
relatives.
Jumla: We heard about entrance exam from TV and my son told me that that they participated in
trainings about new centers, subjects and exams.
Safarmo: My daughter told, me that they had trainings about new centers and also exam. We also heard
about the text and ways of exam from TV.
Navruzmo: From TV and trainings in school.
Zarina: From TV.
Nawruzmo: We know that this year we will not pay inofficial money. This time there would be test, and
they had additional classes and they know about the test in school and there also was manual about
new entrance exam.
8. [Show responses with tabulations completed from the last roster question:] I will show your
responses to the question: I feel that I have all the necessary information for my child to take
the new centralized university exam and apply to university [if need be clarify that only parents
whose children are preparing for university answered this question]


1. Strongly agree _4__
2. Agree _3__
3. Somewhat agree ___
4. Somewhat disagree ___
5. Disagree _1__
6. Strongly disagree ___


a. Would any of you like to comment on your ratings?

Suman: I choose strongly agree, because I have information about the new centralized entrance exam,
however it is new and I dont know whether it works or not.
Safarmo: I choose strongly agree, because my son participated in seminar about new entrance exam.
Bonu: I choose strongly agree, because I failed exams last years, however I do believe that this system is
fair. Now I have choice of 10 professions and it is also test, they will check my knowledge.
9. Do you think a centralized university entrance exam is a good change or a bad change? Why?

Bonu: There is hope and hope dies the last. I think that this will make a strong change in my life as a
student and also thousands of people like me. I think that now people will not ask for money in entrance
exam of university.
Suman: We think that it is good, because good student will study nicely and then in future became good
specialist.
Safarmo: I think that there would be positive changes in the society. Because, now in entrance exam
only knowledgeable student will be considered not just money. Also big variety of choices.
Suman: Now the student should blame him and his knowledge not the system itself.
Zarina: It is not positive change it will remain the same.
10. How do you think the new university entrance exam will affect the perceptions of employers
about the quality of university education?
Safarmo: If they have good knowledge the opinion of employers will change towards them. If they have
good knowledge this is good for them, too. All the best students will be successfully and after graduating
they will, for sure, would be placed at good works.
Suman: They will know that if they are employed they can work. Many student graduate university at
the moment and they cant work, because they do not have good knowledge and skills. This shows that
this might change the perception of employers. Most of them have just diploma not needed skills.
Nawruzmo: Some peoples name at university, however they are in Moscow.
Zarina: Sometimes education is not considered, nowadays a lot of people are educated they did not
have work, because corruption is everywhere.
11. What do you think are the biggest challenges for your own children and others who are applying
to university?
Suman: They will work harder and try to achieve knowledge.
Nawruzmo: They will work very hard.
Zarina: if they have good knowledge and are sure of their knowledge they will achieve their goals. If they
do not have knowledge, they will fail.
Jumla: My son studies at 10
th
grade and if he sees changes in the system, he will work harder; otherwise
he will not pass the entrance exam. They may try harder to pass the entrance exam. Before students
had different opinion about exams, they were sure that they will pass the entrance exam by paying, now
they know that this will not work anymore. For example, my sons brother promised him money for
applying to university, now he has to promise us to pass the entrance exam himself. With Gods help
this system is changed.

12. How do you think the new exam might affect who attends university?

Safarmo: It will affect the girls more than the boys, because girls are working harder than boys. Girls
would like to study more than boys.
Jumla: If girl get married they have to be educated, because being uneducated is shame for most girls
and their families. So if they are not educated they have to sit in their husbands houses and take care of
his parents. If they are educated they have choice to work somewhere.
Safarmo: For boys and girls studying is important equally. We are not educated and it is not good. We
think that girls are affected by this system positively.
Bonu: I tried very hard in order to pass the entrance exam. I think that this system affects me a lot.
a. Would girls be affected any differently from boys?

Zarina: Most boys are entered University with money. Now they need to work harder.
b. Students from poor families?

All: The poor student will get chance to study, before they did not have money. Now they have
opportunity.
13. What do you know about the fees needed to enter and attend university? [If need be follow-up
with the 2 questions below]
Safarmo: Now student need just to pay 150 somonis in the bank and thats all. The rest depends on
student their knowledge.
Nawruzmo: Before we had official and unoffical payings. Just money played role, now knowledge is also
considered.
Suman: Before it was 500 somonis, then 800 USD then it reached 800 dollars. In Dushanbe it is more
expensive.
Izzatkhonim: Our neighbors Mehri studied last year. Her name was not in the register for 5 month then
she was student officially.

a. Do you know whether there are payments needed to enter university and their
amount?
Safarmo: Now there is no inofficial paying. Also faculties depend on university and place of them.
It also depends on national and international university.
Izzatkhonim: There are budget and credit seats.
Suman: Some student buying exams by paying the people. I know some people, who told me that they
gather money, while they have money. This happens at universities.
b. Do you know whether there are payments needed during studies in university and
their amount?
Suman: There is not any official social fond for university and their amounts.
14. Do you think that a student can obtain financial help to enter university? What type of help?

Izzatkhonim: Generally, there are some help. My son studies at Dushanbe military school. All the
spendings are paid by government.
15. Please raise your hand if you thought that there was no financial help available at all from the
State to study in university [Facilitator: Please record number here ____ and enter this in the excel
sheet.]
Suman: Never heard about it.

16. Please raise your hand if you have heard about budget seats for university students? [Facilitator:
Please record number here __7__ and enter this in the excel sheet.]


17. Among those who know about budget seats, please raise your hand if you know and understand
how they are allocated [Facilitator: Please record number here __0__ and enter this in the excel
sheet.]


18. Who would like to explain what budget seats are and the process and criteria to obtain a budget
seat?
Suman: Maybe the best student.
Safarmo: My son studies in Dushanbe in a budget seats. Before he wanted to enter university and
then he failed. After that he went to Moscow gathered money, came back passed the exam and
now he studies at budget seats of Slovenian University. During the entrance he did not pay money in
Dushanbe Slavonic University.
Nawruzmo: My brother also studied at budget seats at university in Dushanbe. He studied Geology.
He did not pay any unofficial payment.

a. Is the process for their allocation changing with the new centralized university
entrance exam?
Sumora: The number will rise, because a lot of good educated people are in the streets.
Suman: My daughter also applied to budget seats, however budget seats are very expensive and we
could not manage to give the money to them. We had financial problems and then she left for
Moscow.
Nawruzmo: In Pamir life is very difficult. Only one person, works he just feeds his family. With the
current government salary nobody is able to educate his or her children.
It is very good for Pamirians, because most of them are well-educated. The lessons are organized
good; schoolchildren are also trying their best. A lot of people will be educated.
Safarmo: Bonu will also pass the exam because she is knowledgeable too.

19. Please raise your hand if you have heard about Presidential quota seats for university students?
[Facilitator: Please record number here __7__ and enter this in the excel sheet.]

20. Among those who know about Presidential quota seats, please raise your hand if you know and
understand how they are allocated [Facilitator: Please record number here __4__ and enter this in
the excel sheet.]
Nawruzmo: There are presidential quotas for different remote school. First we need to pass the
exam. It is designed for orphans, people with invalid parents and people who are socially weak.
The exam will take place in local government. It will be like the entrance exam, then if you pass
the exam you will not pass entrance exam again, because you are already passed the exam and
will became student at University. When the university lectures began the successfully
candidate will receive invitation from university. I participated in exam for quota as well. There
was one girl, who was orphan and she got the presidential quota. She was very poor and she
deserved the quota as well, she deserved the quota honestly.
Safarmo: I have one nephew, he also got the quota. He was very good student and got the
presidential quota with her ability and knowledge. Her father did not work and they were very
poor, however she tried her best. Now she studies in Dushanbe. The quota was with Dushanbe.
Bonu, maybe knows that.
Bonu: Last year I participated in exam of presidential quota. I did everything very good however
I did not get it, because had not money. People paid money and they got the quota. Even the
second best student did not get it. It went directly to the third person, who paid money. My
points were very good. I think her mother worked in Moscow and her uncles were there as well.
They come there and paid. My studying was in vain.
Safarmo: I know another girl, who did not have money, however she got the quota with her
knowledge, and she said that she also was not sure of her knowledge, however everything was
very honest during the examinations. It was in Khorog.
Suman: There were girls, who got quotas. They passed the exams with their knowledge as well.
Nuriya and other girls for example.

21. Who would like to explain what Presidential quota seats are and the process and criteria to obtain
one?
Suman: The best choices for students are presidential quota and free budget seats. If the
studding is cheap it is better for everyone.
Safarmo: We are not able to pay the university fee, with this work and this opportunities.
Suman: We hope for the best. We send one to Moscow, who helps the next to study.
Nawruzmo: One works very hard in Moscow and he sends money to his brother or sister here in
Tajikistan. When he finishes both, will go to Moscow (laughing).
Izzatkhonim: Some people sell their animals and pay the university fees, transportation and food
expenditures for their children.
Izzatkhonim: I have one child, who studies in Dushanbe. His father works very hard, and we send
all money to him in order not leave his studying and not to be hungry. He needs money for
renting, transportation, food, clothes. We have to provide him with all of that, otherwise what
we should do.
Bonu: First of all, student must send written request to local district government.
22. Would your child only be able to go to university if you obtain a budget seat or is on the
Presidential quota? For the youth among us who did not attend university, did you not attend
university because you did not obtain a budget seat or a Presidential quota seat?
Bonu: Yes, not having budget seats and presidential quota.
Nawruzmo: Most people need this quota more than us. This orphan girl, who was with us, had
difficulties more than me.
Zarina: I awaited budget seats, because my parents were not able to pay the charged university fees.
Module 2: Tutoring, informal payments and transitioning into university (70 minutes)

[Read:] In this portion of our discussion, we are going to move through several topics. Well start
with additional classes and tutoring at the high school level.

23. Does your high school offer additional classes, also sometimes known as free classes, in the school
to prepare for university?

Suman: Yes, there are lots of free and charged courses. Most teachers have free preparatory classes.
Bonu: Yes, I took additional classes with Mirdawlat, my chemistry teacher.
Zarina: It depends on the student. Most student take classes others not.
- Nawruzmo: When I was at school I took physic classes. Some of my classmates participated in
Math, Russian and English languages.
Izzatkhonim: Most of teachers try hard to help their students. Nowadays student do not study at all,
however parents do not consider it, even if their children are playing volleyball or football all day.



a. Are they free of charge?
- Suman: This depends on subjects and student. Most teachers teach them freely.

b. If they are not free of charge, who pays for the additional classes? Do all the students
pay? Is the parent-teacher association paying?

- Suman: Here the parents do not pay fee for addition classes.

24. Lets turn now to private tutoring. What I mean by private tutoring is classes that students take
outside of the school and for which they pay additional fees. Generally these classes take place in
the students home or in the home of the person providing the class. With whom do students
from this area take private tutoring? [Please do not lead this question, but try to get specific
answers, such as whether students mainly study with their own high school teachers, teachers from
another class or school, university professors, retired teachers, private tutors and so forth.]

- Izatkhonim: Just school teachers provide tutoring classes.
- Safarmo: We had some additional tutoring classes, For example, English is provided by one
teacher.
- Nawruzmo: Some retired teachers also provide additional private tutoring classes.
- Suman: We have one student, who went to Roshtqala, local government body where she took
additional classes. She went too long to take classes. Now she studies in Pakistan.

25. How common is it for students in this high school (10
th
and 11
th
grade) to take classes with private
tutors (i.e. outside of the high school)?

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students _2__
2. Uncommon - _6__
3. Common enough - ___
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students ___
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students ___

a. [After discussing the main pattern of responses to this question, ask:] Would any of you
like to comment on your rating?

- Suman: Not all the schoolchildren take additional classes. They do not have interest in at all.
- Nawruzmo: Some students, who are planning to apply to university, take additional classes.
- Bonu: I took a lot of additional classes. I worked very hard to learn more.
- Zarina: From my classmates from 15 people only 5 people took additional classes.
26. Did any of you hire tutors for your children?

- Suman: Mostly in these areas very few people hire tutors for their children. School teachers
always provide free additional classes for students.
- Safarmo: There are governmental paid additional courses exist in schools. Teachers organize
them and then they have additional money to their salary.
a. Are there some grade levels or subjects where a need for tutoring is greater?

- Safarmo: It really depends on interests. My daughter likes history. She has interest in history and
takes additional classes.
- Guldona: Law is also important and my daughter likes to attend law classes.
- Suman: Some are very popular like languages. English language is considered one of the
important subjects. Most students have great interest in English language. It is like becoming
very modern.

27. When high school teachers provide private tutoring, how does this work?

a. [Pause and allow responses to previous question before asking:] Do teachers tell the
class that they tutor and encourage their students to take up tutoring? Or, is it more
the parents who request tutoring?
- Nawruzmo: It depends on student. If he/she wants to take additional classes she comes to
techers and they provide him additional classes. Sometimes teachers are also opening courses in
schools and student comes to their lessons.
- Bonu: I also would like to pay for the teacher, who is good at his subject and he also spends all
his time and effort on me. If he is not paid he will not have deep interest in running the lessons.
- Safarmo: Some parents have great interest in providing additional course for their children.

b. Are there any differences in the classroom instruction of teachers who provide
tutoring compared to teachers who do not tutor?

- Suman: Some teachers, who are working out of school, are more qualified.
- Safarmo: They have different methods and often use more technology. The approaches are
different.


28. Are there differences between male and female students with respect to additional classes or
private tutoring in high school, for instance in terms of attendance, subjects, etc.?

- Izatkhonim: More girls take additional classes. They are socially active and do better with their
studying.
- Suman: There are no subject differences. It depends on individual interests.
- Nawruzmo: When I was at school there were not any subject differences. Gender does not
matter.
- Zarina: Mostly, girls are taking languages. In university in the department of foreign languages
there are lots of girls and very few boys
- Nawruzmo: Economics, technical professions and military preparatory faculties.

29. In university, how common do you think is it for students to take classes with private tutors (i.e.
outside of the usual classes or additional classes offered by the university)?

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students ___
2. Uncommon - _2__
3. Common enough - _6__
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students ___
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students _1__
a. [After discussing the main pattern of responses to this question, ask:]Would any of you like
to explain your ratings?
- Safarmo: very few student take additional classes. It is very important, because their knowledge
will be developed better and these help them to pass the university exams better. My son, who
studies in Dushanbe take tutoring in English language for passing his final exam and English, is
needed for his development in future.
- Nawruzmo: I have brother, who also take additional private classes. When I talk with him on
phone sometime he is in his private classes. He plans to do his Master and prepares well.
- Bonu: I choose extremely common, because I could not pass the entrance exam and almost one
year I am taking university entrance preparatory classes. I think it is very important for me to
enter university this year.
- Izatkhonim: It really depends on person, whoever has wish of studying he will take other
additional classes as well.
- Suman: Additional classes will help him to understand his subject better.


[Read:] Now we are going to turn to the topic of informal payments in education. By informal
payments I am referring to any cash or gifts that are made to educational administrators, teachers, or
professors that are outside of official channels or that are supposed to be covered by the school.
There are many types of informal payments, for instance, for school uniforms, books, transportation,
field trips, or school maintenance or infrastructure. For our purposes today, I am interested in
learning more about your views on, and perhaps experiences with, informal payments that are made
to improve a students success in a class or on an exam.

30. A survey released in 2008 found that more than 1 in 3 parents in Tajikistan think that informal
payments are necessary for getting their children into university. Would you agree that 1 in 3
parents need to make informal payments to get their children into university? If you think the
survey got it wrong, please note next to your rating what you think the share is of parents who
are making informal payments for basic or high school.

1. No, informal payments are much less common, not necessary to attain university. ___
2. Yes, informal payments are necessary to attain university- 1 in 3 sounds about right. ___
3. No, informal payments are much more common. _7__

a. Why is this seen to be so common?

- Nawruzmo: It was necessary to pay money. If we did not pay it our children stayed out of
university.
- Jumla: It was commonly preserved. My son and other student could not afford the money and
they left for Moscow.
- Nawruzmo: I applied I did not have money and then I could not manage to be received in
university. One of my neighbors applies almost 3 years; however he can not pass the entrance
exam, because knowledge is not considered.
- Zarina: One of my cousins would like to transfer himself from Dushanbe university to Khorog. In
Dushanbe they asked him to pay money.
- Nawruzmo: There are very good teachers, who run their lessons nicely. They hate bribe even if
their salary is nothing.

31. Based on your own experiences and what you have heard directly from parents and students, how
common is it for students to make informal payments to get into your high school (grades 10 and
11)?

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students __8_
2. Uncommon - ___
3. Common enough - ___
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students ___
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students ___

b. Lets discuss your ratings. When substantial informal payments occur to get into the
high school, how does it work?

All: We do not have this kind of payment.
32. Based on your own experiences and what you have heard directly from high school students or
their parents, how common is it for students to make substantial informal payments in your high
school (grades 10 and 11)? By substantial I mean not just one small gift made once a year to a
teacher (or school principal) in your high school.

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students __7_
2. Uncommon - _1__
3. Common enough - ___
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students ___
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students ___

a. Lets discuss your ratings. When substantial informal payments occur in high school,
how does it work?
All: Generally, we do not have any informal payments.
Suman: sometime it is very difficult for poor student if all gather money. If they can not give money,
there would even suicide in order not to lose the reputation.
b. When people make substantial informal payments in high school (grades 10-11), why
is that? What do they pay for?
All: Generally, we do not have any informal payments.

33. Do girls find it more difficult than boys to face teachers who ask for gifts or to ask their parents
for these funds?
All: Girls ask their mothers and then they make present. But they have free choice to do that, nobody make
them to pay this money.

34. How about you parents do mothers or fathers find it more difficult to deal with teachers who
request special gifts or funds? Why?

All: People themselves never ask for gifts. In these are most people are proud and they do not want to be
called bad.

35. Do you know of cases when students dropped out of high school because they were unable to
make informal payments?
a. Why didnt they try to report their problems with informal payments? Arent there
mechanisms to do that?
Suman: There is not any informal payment. If people would like to make gift or present, it is done by
their parents.
Nawruzmo: One teacher comes from Dushanbe and she told that in Dushanbe they have, fortunately we
do not have this kind of things here.
Now we are going to discuss university admissions and preparations for the new centralized university
entrance exam.

36. Until now, based on what you have heard directly from friends and acquaintances, how common
was it for students to make informal payments in order to get into university?

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students ___
2. Uncommon -
___
3. Common enough - ___
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students __1_
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students _7__

a. Lets discuss your ratings. When informal payments occur to enter university,
how does it work?
Suman: Most student pay money. If they do not pay money they will not enter university.
Nawruzmo: My cousin entered university, and he paid informal payment. He already new that he was
student, while we were studying, and because of that he never took additional classes.
Suman: My daughter wanted to go to University. She wanted to study in English faculty. However she
did not pass the entrance exam.
Jumla: Nowadays, most students do not study and blaming for that the system. I know one girl, who did
not pay money; however she is now studying and went to America.
Izatkhonim: When my son entered university, he passed the exam the next day we come and they told
his father if he wants his son to be in his position he has to pay, so he paid and our son become student.
Nawruzmo: I had classmate, who was very good. He passed the exam. He just paid the half of informal
payment; however he could not pay the rest. Then he failed the exam. The second half was 500 USD.
Izatkhonim: We paid 1000 USD.
Surma: I know one person, who paid 500 USD as a bribe and each year he pays 500 USD the University
of the Faculty.
Zarina: Most students are too stupid and in order to enter university their parents pay money. They
blame for that university, however it is they, who pay the informal payment. The student, who pay
money do not have knowledge at all.

b. When people make informal payments to get into university, why is that? What
do they pay for? [Pause but you may suggest: To get into university? Receive a
budget seat? To get into a specific major? For something else?]
Nawruzmo: If the people, who paid money and then become student. They do not deserve to be student. They
always blaming university teachers, however they are not studying themselves, so they pay in exams as
well.
Suman: People, pay, while they enter. Some student pays while they study at university.
37. Do you know of cases when students were not able to enter university because they were unable
to make informal payments?
- Nawruzmo: We already said it. I wanted to pass the exam myself, my father wanted to pay the
infomal money because we had it. I did not want this amount of money should be paid for my. I
told my father that I will pass the entrance exam myself, however I did mistake, I was not
received.
- Suman: lots of student made suicide, while they were not able to pass the entrance exam and
did not have money to pay. The daughter of our neighbor committed suicide 2 year ago.

38. How will the new entrance exam affect:


a. High school teachers?

- Nawruzmo: Now teachers will teach better. Student will study harder. The stimuli of honesty
and bright future will be defined. I dreamed about this in my time, unfortunately I could not
manage to take me back to my school years.
- Safarmo: Student understands that without studying they can not study anymore. They begin to
study deeper. Teacher of high school also look at student differently, even if they are always
teaching very nicely.

b. University professors?
- Jumla: It is very bad for professors, because their pockets are empty now.
- Zarina: Not all the professors are corrupted. Just several people are involved in corruption. The
rest of the people are honest and the salary, who is paid by government, is not enough for
them.
- Suman: we honestly do not believe in the fair testing system.
- Nawruzmo: In medical college people still enter college by paying bribe in entrance. I also
support Suman here. There will be ways through which people will find how to corrupt.
- Suman: We do not believe in honesty. When we called to Dushanbe. The informal channel was
5000 dollars.
Nawruzmo: it is very bad for example medical student are very bad. Some people die, because
of wrong disease diagnoses. Different doctors now tell different disease stories. Tomorrow we
will die in the hands of such medical students.
c. Private tutoring in high school?

- Nawruzmo: The level of teaching will rise. If money paid the quality will rise surely.
- Suman: the number of private tutoring classes will rise. Now people do not rely on the thickness
of their purse, but on the knowledge level.
- Zarina: Parents will also rely on their children.

39. More specifically, how do you think the new centralized university entrance exam will affect
informal payments for admissions to universities?

1. Decrease substantially __
2. Decrease somewhat _8_
3. Stay the same __
4. Increase somewhat __
5. Increase substantially __


a. Would any of you like to share the reasons for your rating? [try to disentangle what students
think about the number of people making payments from what they think about the amounts
paid by one person making a payment]
Izatkhonim: The first year it will decrease substantially.
Nawruzmo: This is the first time. People still do not know who is there and whom they need to bribe.
The people who are working in new centralized entrance exams are not clear. Very few
people have access to them.
Suman: Yesterday I talk with one man. I will not tell his name however he told me that he will pay
500 dollars in order to help her granddaughter to medical college. It was interesting how he
manages to do that, which is why I do not believe in this system.
Zarina: Parents know that their children do not have education and they will fail the entrance exams.
They also correspond the corruption level. It is not teacher, who comes to parents, however
parents go to teachers.

40. Aside from informal payments and tutoring, are there other ways through which students can
enter university that are outside of the rules? What are they?

- Bonu: Beside all of these kinds of ways, now we got the process of re-applying.
- Nawruzmo: Maybe relatives, friends.
- Suman: Buying tests from center. Good uncle also helps if he is very good uncle, maybe the
student will not pay at all.
- Izatkhonim: Bribing always happens when the student is stupid. It is not secret that however it is
true. I have two sons, one works hard and have very good knowledge. He enters university
without paying. The next is not doing well at school. Now we are finding way somehow to
educate him.
Most parents do the same as we do. Students do not have enough knowledge and parents us all illegal
ways to help him.
a. If so, how do you think the university entrance exam will affect these other ways of
getting into university?

- Jumla: if the sistem is changed. It is almost uprooted. Good uncles will not be needed anymore.
Students will rely just on them and they feel their responsibility.
- Nawruzmo: They will not know him, because he is not paying. All the mentioned ways are
affected. The level of corruption will be lowered. People change their attitudes towards the
teachers and professors. Still other types of corruption exist.

41. Do you think the new exam will mean that students with greater knowledge, aptitude or drive for
learning will have a better, same, or worse chance of attending university?


1. Much better chance _8__
2. Better chance ___
3. The same ___
4. Worse chance ___
5. Much worse chance ___

a. Why? Or, why not?
- Suman: It is good for poor but educated student.
- Safarmo: We also support the system. The best or at least good student will apply and they will
study. The level of education will also rise.
- Bonu: I like this system, because now I have chance to apply. If I fail the exam I will blame just
me no other people. I know lots of other student, who like this system.
- Zarina: Good people come to university and in the future they will make some positive changes.
- Nawruzmo: if this system does not work. Knowledgeable student will migrate to Russia. Next
the student who pay money and graduated university will migrate next. Firstly, the salary is low
and next they cannot work.

43. We will now return to the topic of funding by the State to help students attend university.
Focusing on budget seats, do you think that their allocation until now has been merit-based,
which means that students who obtain them are those who deserve them most based on their
academic achievements?

1. Yes, merit-based
2. Yes, somewhat merit-based 6
3. No, somewhat non merit-based 2
4. No, not merit-based at all


a. Who would like to explain their rating? How was the allocation of budget seats made so
far?
- Nawruzmo: A lot of people take budget seats. They do not pay money. They are studying well. I
have one friend, she studies at university. She told the she never paid money in her exams or
entrance exams. All her brothers and sisters studying at university they also never paid money
for exams.
- Izatkhonim: Most people take responsibility and they prepare very well. They also take
additional classes in the chosen subjects.
- Izatkhonim: It is generally preserved that most students, who do not have knowledge, will never
appy to budget seats they prefer credit places.
- Guldona: Some people prefer to apply to budget seats, because they pay informal money all at
once and never pay again.

b. Do you think that with the new centralized university entrance exam, the proportion of
students who merit a budget seat will increase?

- Guldona: Yes, we think that the numbers of candidate will increase. The best student will focus
on group. The entrance points are also high. Still the best student will be successful.
- Nawruzmo: Only those students who have proper knowledge will apply, their rest of student will
be afraid because the demand for taking the place will increase rapidly.


44. Do you think the presidential seats are any more or less transparent and fair than budget seats? If
so, why?
- Suman: The budget seats are less transparent.
- Nawruzmo: The number of presidential seats is limited only 4 or 5 in each faculty. The budgets
seat students number is higher and more people would like to take them. Studying there is
reputable, there studying the most educated people.
- Bonu: Generaly the presidential quotas go to the children of local government body members.
- Suman: Mostly poor families do not get the budget.
- Nawruzmo: When I was in exam of presidential quanta seats everything was honestly. There
was one girl who was orphan and was well educated. She deserved the presidential quite
honestly.
- Bonu: I was good and had the highest score in my presidential quota seat exam. My knowledge
is not considered.

45. Are there other non-official ways to obtain a budget seat or a Presidential quota seat?
- Nawruzmo: Bringing rams (sheep) to commissions (laughing). One teacher at our school bribed
someone at university and got the place. She never worked again, after graduating she migrated
to Moscow.

46. How about Olympiads, do you think that their grading is merit-based, which means that students
who obtain the top scores are those who have the greatest knowledge?

1. Yes, merit-based 7
2. Yes, somewhat merit-based 1
3. No, somewhat non merit-based 1
4. No, not merit-based at all

a. Who would like to explain their rating?

- Guldona: I think that they deserve the place. Most people come to Olympiad prepared well.
- Nawruzmo: Some people are not that good however have money and good Entrances.
- Zarina: If person participates in Olympida they are doing well at the subject they apply to.
- Nawruzmo: In school it is honestly, in district it is ok; however in region this is not good. People
are not that honest.
- Izatkhonim: In Dushanbe mostly people pay and take place. I know one person, who
participated in Olympiad in physics, his father appealed; however the examiners told him that
he had better not to do that because the person is already defined. Then the father of student
said that we will never come to Khorog again, we come through long way and you are not
honest.
-
47. Lets now turn to university, based on your experiences and what you have directly from
university students or from their parents, how common is it to make substantial informal
payments or gifts to university professors or university administrators? Again, by substantial
informal payments or gifts we mean not just one small gift made once a year.

1. Extremely uncommon - less than 5 percent / less than 1 out of 20 students ___
2. Uncommon - ___
3. Common enough - ___
4. Very common - 34 percent to 49 percent / between 1 in 3 students to 1 in 2 students ___
5. Extremely common - 50 percent or more / more than 1 in 2 students __8_
a. Who would like to explain their rating?

Nawruzmo: Most students do not study and they try to bribe everyone in order to get their
diploma or exam. Teachers also use the opportunities and take money.
Zarina: Only some teachers take bribe, the rest not.
Suman: Some student pays money for exam and if they are disqualified from university.
Module 3: Success beyond high school (25 minutes)

[Read:] The final set of topics today explore young peoples transitions from high school and
university to the world of work.

48. Lets step back from university and talk again about high school students from this area. Has it
been common for some female students to drop out after 9
th
grade? If yes, what are the leading
reasons for this? (Please record the reasons on a flip chart.)

Why do girls drop out after 9
th
grade?

Suman: Before it exited now it never happens, only people with disabilities leave school.
All: At the moment nobody leaves school.
(add a row for boys later in the discussion)

49. Among the different reasons on this list, what are the top two reasons why a young woman from
this area would drop out of high school after 9
th
grade? [Please instruct the group to provide two
reasons, each on a separate sticky. The column should add up to a total of 20 reasons if there are 10
FGD members. And so as not to confuse the group, please do not create the third column for the
ratings on boys until after discussing the girls.]

Why girls
dropped out
Why boys
dropped out*
Finacial
problem,
Finacial
problem,
Not having
enough
knowledge
Not having
enough
knowledge
















*do not add this column to the flip chart until asking about boys.

a. Would any of you like to discuss your ratings?

Suman: We only have two reasons of leaving school. First one is not having money and
second they can not study anymore because their education level is very low. For example Malika
our neighbor left school because she is orphan and have financial problem, however she is very
intelligent. Saidmos education level is poor and because of that she left school.
50. And young men from around here? Do they sometimes not finish high school? If yes, what were
the leading reasons why that happen?

Financial problem, 4
Not having enough knowledge 4

a. Now, Id like you to rate the top two reasons why boys drop out of high school after 9
th

grade.
Financial problem, 4
Not having enough knowledge 4

b. Again, would any of you like to explain your ratings?

- Suman: We only have two reasons of leaving school. First one is not having money and second
they cannot study anymore because their education level is very low.
- Safarmo: The reasons for boys and girls the same.
- Naruzmo: Very few people leave school. With these two reasons. There are no other reasons,
which lead students to stop their studying.

c. Does it happen sometimes in a family that a girl drops out of high school but a boy
continues with his studies? Why does this happen?
All: Generally, a gender does not matter. Education is equal for both, boys and girls.

51. What do you think could help more young people to complete their secondary education and
continue to university in this community?

Suman: Place for staying.
Jumla: Student apartments. Most of our children do not have place for staying and they cannot
study in Dushanbe.
- Most people do not have job, teachers salary is low, and if it is rises this would be good for the
quality of education.

52. What measures besides a good education do you think would help more young people in the
community to find good jobs?

Good knowledge
Excellent skills
Language skills
Good morality
Good communication skills
Suman: For example, Saidmo works very hard even if she does not have education. Some people do
not have education. They can do different work and they can earn money as well.

Thank you to each of you for being so generous with your time today and for sharing your views and
experiences.