Figure 1.--This Tajik boy and girl aftter gradution are dressed for formal dancing--a waltz. The girl wears long white dress with large bow in hair, ankle socks, and black strap shoes. The boy wears a dark suit, white shirt and red bow tie, and black shoes. Image courtesy of William Fergusson. |
A HBC reader has provided information about Tajikistan School graduating ceremonies.
Tajikistan children believe May is their favorite month. It is strawberry and cherry season. There is no stopping their consumption of these fresh and delicious fruits. These are in abundance and mark the start of summer. Another indicator that summer is here are the many
school preparations for the Graduation Ceremonies which will be held at the month’s end.
This is main reason why May is a good month for children for it is the start of their summer holiday. No more school and three whole months of holiday bliss until September 1st.
The end of May is when the Graduation Ceremonies takes
place at every school throughout the city. These
ceremonies mark the end of the academic year. I was
able to attend two of these ceremonies. These were at
Dushanbe International School and School 21.
I have photographed this event at these school
ceremonies. Most of the photographs included in this
article were taken at School 21. Theirs was an outdoor
one while the former took place in the Opera Ballet
theatre.
The pattern of the Graduation Ceremony is the same regardless of where it is held. They start with the School Director’s' address. This was about the
students, their work and progress and where their future. At DIS several of their students are going to Universities in America Britain and France.
The DIS Director called upon the Minister of Education
to give an address. He spoke about the Tajik – Turkish
educational partnership. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs then spoke about the high standard of
education of Tajik children. There are 9 living
languages spoken in Tajikistan and there is a 99% rate
of literacy.English is taught as a second language and
most children have some knowledge of English.French
and German are also taught. The Tajik language is
replacing Russian as the mother tongue language.
The speeches over and to a trumpet fanfare the graduating students were called onto the stage. The students walked through an archway of flowers.
The boys were dressed in black suits and the girls wore dresses. At School 21 the girls wore two large white bows in their hair. All wore a red sash which
had gold Russian writing on them. The wording said, ‘Graduation Ceremony 2003.’
Once on the stage they were presented with their diplomas and awards. Each then gave a short speech about their final year of schooling. The oldest graduating student then made a short speech to next years’ graduation class. They were presented with a symbolic key, year book and torch of knowledge. With these education symbols they promised to continue
the tradition of academic excellence and hard work. I recalled the following verse by a Polish poet ‘You take the torch of Knowledge and build the new roads into the future.” It was a verse that inspired Madam Curie to strive for greatness.
Year 1 students presented a bouquet of flowers to each
of the graduates. After this there was a programme of
music, dance and drama by each of the classes. These
performances were singing, cultural dancing, comedy
sketches, There was a performance of Tajik music
played by the school orchestra on tradition Tajik
instruments.
All the students took part in a last dance. During
this a small child enters who is carried on the
shoulders of a graduating student. She was ringing a
symbolic school bell. It is the last bell and with its
tolling it signifies that lessons and the school year
is over.
The music and dancing stopped and the students leave
the stage. The graduates sign each others sash and for
them their future begins. For the pupils returning it
is the start of their vacation.
The director of School 21 ended her address wishing
her students a happy holiday and good luck.
Ñ÷àñòëèâûõ êàíèêóë è óäà÷è ìîè äîðîãèå ñòóäåíòû. ("Happy holiday and Good Luck my dear
Students.")
These words are a good place to end a report about a
graduation ceremony.
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