Reflections from Tajik educators at the end of their visit last month
On Oct. 1, the last full day of their weeklong visit in Boulder, five Tajikistan education leaders shared some of their thoughts about their time here in the United States. These Tajik delegates had been hosted by Boulder Dushanbe Sister Cities (BDSC) as part of the Open World program which is funded mostly by the U.S. Congress. The focus of their visit was on secondary education administration with special interest in educational reform and innovation. The visitors had home stays with BDSC educators and Boulder Mayor Susan Osborne.
The delegates were Zulfikor Abdulkhamidov, Khamkima Atakhanova, Akbarali Choriyev, Ilkhomzhon Sultonov, and Muattarkhon Ubaydulloyeva. Lolagul Raimbekova also traveled with the group from Tajikistan working as their facilitator.
They visited the BVSD Education Center and nine BVSD schools while here: Centaurus High School; Horizons K-8 School; Nevin Platt Middle School, Choice Program; Boulder High School; Casey Middle School; New Vista High School; Arapahoe Ridge Campus; Fairview High School IB Program; and Peak to Peak Charter School.
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Tajik Delegates with their Superintendent's Honor Roll
certificates outside of the BVSD Ed Center Oct. 12 |
Q. How do you think the week went?
Ilkhomzhon: “It is unforgettable. I thank those who organized and arranged this program for us, especially Sophia [Stoller, member of the Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities Board]. We visited so many different schools, and we saw so many new, interesting things. We had no idea there were so many educational systems. We were amazed.'
“I made a note to myself to pay attention to every little thing, to very simple things in my life.
“We were amazed and impressed to visit the district administration, to see how you handle special education, technology education, and others.
“We will do all of our best to use this new experience in our country according to the mentality of our people. I will personally tell my colleagues about the enthusiasm of your teachers and do my best to help them be as enthusiastic.”
Muattarkhon: “I would like to thank Open World Program for hosting this program. The week was very short but so fruitful. Before coming to the United States, I had set my own goal to learn as much as possible. I think I reached my goal.
“We visited many different schools. We were shown various ways of teaching, different methods. I plan to use these different ways and methods at the district in which I work.
“One of the first reforms which we will be making in the Tajik system will be for our schools to switch from 11 years to 12 years, as your schools are. I will also make changes to the teacher plans.”
Zulfikor: “It is impossible to create all those perfect conditions in schools but I like to take my experience I gain from my American counterparts back to Tajikistan anyway.”
Q. What did you like best about the American education systems which you observed this week?
Zulfikor: “I like the way teachers and students communicated with one another.”
Ilkhomzhon: “I like that the American education system makes all the best it can be to meet the needs of the child.”
Khamkima: “I like how the schools here are technically equipped. I also like that students are given choices.”
Akbarali: “I should create my own new alphabet to explain to my students what I like about your systems. I like that your system takes into consideration the interests of your students. I also like that each school has its own curriculum.”
Lolagul: “I like the right of making choices that you have. I like that each family can afford for their child to get an education, rich and poor, and still there is a choice. The best thing is there is no one left aside. You treat people as human beings.”
Maya (the group’s translator) added that she likes the atmosphere of the schools, that the student comes to school and feels comfortable, likes the community, and does not feel forced to be there.
Q. After everything you have seen here this week, what do you still like the best about your education system in Tajikistan? (The group discussed this question and had one member answer for all of them.)
Lolagul: “We cannot say that our system is not working well, because we see all these people and leaders coming up out of it and doing well, the country is doing well.
“We like that our schools are more attached and dealing with student behavior in terms of society, working with the social and behavioral skills of the students. Our schools are stricter about this; we take it more seriously.
“We are happy with our curriculum and teaching styles, but we want more flexibility, more choices.”
For more information about the Tajik delegation to Boulder, see http://bvsd.org/news/Pages/OpenWorldTajikEducators.aspx.