On June 11, 2025, an important event for Tajikistan's education and school feeding system took place in Dushanbe. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Committee on Primary and Secondary Vocational Education under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan as part of implementation of the State School Feeding Development Programme for the period of 2022-2027.
The document was signed by Adham Musallam, WFP Country Director in Tajikistan, and Farhod Rahimi, Chairman of the Committee. This agreement opens new opportunities for improving schoolchildren's nutrition and training of professional staff.
Schools and colleges are an important part of the system
Farhod Rahimi noted that today there are 65 primary and 88 secondary vocational education institutions in the country, where students learn more than 500 professions. Now one more important direction will be added to this list - training of cooks for school canteens.
Hot meals are the key to children's health
Adham Musallam said that thanks to the School Feeding Programme, which WFP is implementing together with the technical partner Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), more than 2,000 schools across the country are receiving quality hot meals. 116 canteens have already been renovated and equipped, and 5,500 cooks provide children with healthy food.
However, the same number of specialists is needed to fully cover all educational institutions. Therefore, Tajikistan residents will now have the opportunity to learn cookery, get a diploma and get a job in school canteens.
Cooks training centres - coming soon!
According to the MoU, the first training centre will be established on the basis of the Vocational Technical Lyceum of Textile Industry in Dushanbe. Here, future cooks will be able to undergo training and receive a qualification diploma.
Similar centres are planned to be established in other regions of the country, which will help to provide schools with professional staff and make children's nutrition even better.
This project is an important step in improving the health of schoolchildren and developing vocational education in Tajikistan. Together we are creating a better future for our children!
The document was signed by Adham Musallam, WFP Country Director in Tajikistan, and Farhod Rahimi, Chairman of the Committee. This agreement opens new opportunities for improving schoolchildren's nutrition and training of professional staff.
Schools and colleges are an important part of the system
Farhod Rahimi noted that today there are 65 primary and 88 secondary vocational education institutions in the country, where students learn more than 500 professions. Now one more important direction will be added to this list - training of cooks for school canteens.
Hot meals are the key to children's health
Adham Musallam said that thanks to the School Feeding Programme, which WFP is implementing together with the technical partner Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), more than 2,000 schools across the country are receiving quality hot meals. 116 canteens have already been renovated and equipped, and 5,500 cooks provide children with healthy food.
However, the same number of specialists is needed to fully cover all educational institutions. Therefore, Tajikistan residents will now have the opportunity to learn cookery, get a diploma and get a job in school canteens.
Cooks training centres - coming soon!
According to the MoU, the first training centre will be established on the basis of the Vocational Technical Lyceum of Textile Industry in Dushanbe. Here, future cooks will be able to undergo training and receive a qualification diploma.
Similar centres are planned to be established in other regions of the country, which will help to provide schools with professional staff and make children's nutrition even better.
This project is an important step in improving the health of schoolchildren and developing vocational education in Tajikistan. Together we are creating a better future for our children!