This report presents findings about how parents choose their children’s school within the new educational market in Tajikistan.

1. PARENT’S CHOICES IN
THE EDUCATIONAL
MARKET IN
DUSHANBE,
TAJIKISTAN
Christopher M.
Whitsel
Nazarbayev University
This research was supported by funds from the Research Scholar Program supported by the
United States Department of State, Program for Research and Training for Eastern Europe and
the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), administered by American Councils
for International Education. I also want to thank Tuychi Rashidov for his research assistance while

2. Development of the Market
 Economic Crisis
 State Failure
 Educational
Contraction
 Establish private
schools
 Decentralization
 Approved fees for
extracurricular
courses and
educational services
Economic and Political
Decline
Pro-Market Reforms
Foundation of differences in Soviet Period

3. Creation of Markets
Source: Ministry of Education 2010:
Мачуmи Омории Сохаи Маорифи Чумчурии Точикистон, 2010-2011
(Educational Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan, 2010-2011)

4. Data and Respondents
 Fieldwork in 2013
 Snowball sample (N~25) with establish contacts
as the core
 Neighborhood Schools
 Choice Schools

5. 4 types of Schools
Elite Private
Schools
Low-Cost
Private
Schools
High-Quality
Public
Schools
Neighborhood
Schools
Costs, School Quality & Informal
Payments,

6. Curriculum
TeachersLocation

7. Curriculum
TeachersLocation
COST
S

8. Individual Variation
 Sibling differentiation
 Gender differentiation