The Aga Khan ECD Resource Centre in Khorog, operated by the Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) Tajikistan, is the national level lead site for AKDN ECD programmes in Tajikistan. In addition to providing pre-primary and parental support programmes, the centre and other AKDN agencies partner with the regional government of GBAO and community providers. Together, they support access to quality pre-primary care and education for children from birth to six years, with the ultimate aim of improving developmental outcomes for children.

The Aga Khan ECD Resource Centre provides support to AKES, Tajikistan pre-primary units, as well as ECD centres within government schools, government kindergartens, remote rural government ECD programmes and the Care for Child Development Programme. Support provided includes technical support, teacher capacity development, prenatal and postnatal maternal health programmes, learning resources and classroom renovation.

The Aga Khan ECD Resource Centre has delivered professional development for teachers at government kindergartens in GBAO. The training and provision of teaching and learning materials have contributed to improved teaching and learning approaches in the environment, curriculum and teaching pedagogy, as well as partnership with families and communities.

AKES, Tajikistan is planning to expand its provision of ECD programmes and services in GBAO over the coming years with leadership from the ECD Resource Centre in Khorog.

Aga Khan Early Childhood Development Centres

Three ECD centres (two in Khorog and one in Ishkashim) offers early learning opportunities for children aged three to six in half-day and full-day programmes. The most recent centre opened in Ishkahim in 2020 and serves as a hub for best practice within its district. The ECD centres use best practice to nurture a caring and stimulating environment for children supporting the use of their mother tongue as well as Tajik and English.

The ECD curriculum is holistic in its approach and includes developing children’s knowledge and skills in communication, language and literacy, arts, maths, science and social studies. With a focus on instruction in Tajik as the national language, children also have exposure to English. The curriculum is designed to support the transition to school where children are prepared to enter English-, Tajik- or Russian-medium primary schools.

AKES, Tajikistan ECD teachers are performing well at national-level competitions and are acknowledged for their commitment and expertise. An ECD teacher from Khorog was honoured with the state title of “Best ECD teacher 2019”, with another receiving the title of “Honoured ECD Teacher 2021”.

Engaging with parents and caregivers

AKF ensures parents and caregivers develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to support their children’s development. We teach volunteer community health promoters and health professionals to offer counselling services, while providing optimal prenatal and postnatal care for mothers. Community volunteers improve teaching and learning environments and support operations through ECD support groups.

We are fostering the active role of parents and caregivers in child development through capacity building of local health professionals, including primary healthcare staff, voluntary community health promoters and ECD teachers.

We engage parents and caregivers to provide nurturing home environments and to improve teaching and learning environments through ECD support groups and volunteering. We have been piloting “Responsible Fatherhood” programmes in remote areas of Gorno-Badakhshan. These have helped 376 men to date understand the role they play in the development of their children and become more involved in their children’s lives.