DUSHANBE -- Faced with a conflict between Eid ul Adha and the start of school nationwide, Tajikistan chose school, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported Monday (August 28).
Tajikistan annually begins school September 1 (Friday), but the start of Eid ul Adha in Tajikistan this year also falls on September 1.
Tajik authorities will open schools and universities on September 1 and give schoolchildren and college students a public holiday on Saturday (September 2) for Eid ul Adha, the Education Ministry told RFE/RL. Saturday is ordinarily a school day in Tajikistan.
Other Central Asian countries are addressing the schedule conflict differently. Kyrgyzstan cancelled September 1 classes but will have schools host brief gatherings that day to mark the start of the academic year. Kazakhstan postponed the first day of school until September 2. Uzbekistan was spared a choice because it always celebrates Independence Day, a national holiday, September 1.
