Tajikistan to launch first national AI education initiative in partnership with UNICEF and zypl.ai
Tajikistan has announced the launch of Project Soro, the country’s first large-scale initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its national education system. According to press release issued by Ai CONF 2025, the project, developed in collaboration with UNICEF and tech company zypl.ai, aims to make digital learning accessible to every student while equipping young people with future-ready skills.
The agreement to launch Project Soro — «AI for Inclusive Education in Tajikistan» — was signed at AI CONF 2025 by the Tajikistan AI Council under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT), UNICEF, and zypl.ai. This landmark initiative marks the first comprehensive deployment of AI in education in Central Asia.
Project Soro is reportedly a key component of Tajikistan’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-2040), which targets achieving a 5% GDP contribution from AI by 2040 through the development of a knowledge-based economy. Under the AI Council’s leadership, foundational elements of this strategy have already been created, including the AI Academy, which has trained over 700 specialists, and SoroLLM — the first large language model (LLM) for the Tajik language, designed to reflect the country’s cultural and dialectical diversity.
Trained on a combination of real and synthetic data, SoroLLM enables accurate contextual understanding and domain-specific adaptation. Within the education sector, the model powers personalized learning, supports teachers, and promotes digital literacy. It also opens the door for broader AI integration in government, civil society, and the private sector in the Tajik language.
The model will be embedded into existing digital education platforms such as maktabmobile.tj and eDonish, delivering tailored learning experiences in Tajik, supporting pedagogical work, improving algorithmic literacy, and fostering a safe, inclusive learning environment.
The AI Council will coordinate the project and establish national standards, while UNICEF will ensure child rights and ethical AI use, and zypl.ai will lead technical adaptation, training, and system integration of SoroLLM.
«We are all facing the challenge of developing educational tools that fully leverage the power of big data and AI while ensuring privacy, protection from harm, and the empowerment of children to realize their rights,» said Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in Tajikistan. «In partnership with the Tajikistan AI Council and zypl.ai, UNICEF is committed to integrating AI into Tajikistan’s education system as a tool for learning and empowerment.»
By 2027, «Introduction to Artificial Intelligence» will become a mandatory subject in all schools. The project is expected to reach 4,000 schools and 2 million students, train up to 2,000 AI specialists, and generate an estimated 150 $ million in economic impact over five years — reinforcing Tajikistan’s regional leadership in ethical AI.
Project Soro will also be part of Area AI, a new tech hub integrating education, research, and innovation to support youth employment. The initiative is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025 and continue through 2028 with support from international organizations, donors, and the private sector.
This ambitious initiative showcases how AI can unlock new opportunities for every child in Tajikistan.
source: asiaplustj.info
The agreement to launch Project Soro — «AI for Inclusive Education in Tajikistan» — was signed at AI CONF 2025 by the Tajikistan AI Council under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies (MoINT), UNICEF, and zypl.ai. This landmark initiative marks the first comprehensive deployment of AI in education in Central Asia.
Project Soro is reportedly a key component of Tajikistan’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-2040), which targets achieving a 5% GDP contribution from AI by 2040 through the development of a knowledge-based economy. Under the AI Council’s leadership, foundational elements of this strategy have already been created, including the AI Academy, which has trained over 700 specialists, and SoroLLM — the first large language model (LLM) for the Tajik language, designed to reflect the country’s cultural and dialectical diversity.
Trained on a combination of real and synthetic data, SoroLLM enables accurate contextual understanding and domain-specific adaptation. Within the education sector, the model powers personalized learning, supports teachers, and promotes digital literacy. It also opens the door for broader AI integration in government, civil society, and the private sector in the Tajik language.
The model will be embedded into existing digital education platforms such as maktabmobile.tj and eDonish, delivering tailored learning experiences in Tajik, supporting pedagogical work, improving algorithmic literacy, and fostering a safe, inclusive learning environment.
The AI Council will coordinate the project and establish national standards, while UNICEF will ensure child rights and ethical AI use, and zypl.ai will lead technical adaptation, training, and system integration of SoroLLM.
«We are all facing the challenge of developing educational tools that fully leverage the power of big data and AI while ensuring privacy, protection from harm, and the empowerment of children to realize their rights,» said Arthur van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in Tajikistan. «In partnership with the Tajikistan AI Council and zypl.ai, UNICEF is committed to integrating AI into Tajikistan’s education system as a tool for learning and empowerment.»
By 2027, «Introduction to Artificial Intelligence» will become a mandatory subject in all schools. The project is expected to reach 4,000 schools and 2 million students, train up to 2,000 AI specialists, and generate an estimated 150 $ million in economic impact over five years — reinforcing Tajikistan’s regional leadership in ethical AI.
Project Soro will also be part of Area AI, a new tech hub integrating education, research, and innovation to support youth employment. The initiative is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025 and continue through 2028 with support from international organizations, donors, and the private sector.
This ambitious initiative showcases how AI can unlock new opportunities for every child in Tajikistan.
source: asiaplustj.info
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