Аңдатпа
Abstract Gender inequality has been a concern in Tajikistan since gaining independence. The re-emergence of patriarchal values and re-traditionalization of gender relationships, along with economic, structural, and institutional challenges, have significantly affected the well-being of women in the country. Despite concerted efforts to address these inequalities, female students in Tajikistan lag in educational participation and attainment. The representation of females in upper secondary school is significantly lower than their male counterparts, while in higher education female students represent less than 40 percent of the country's enrollment. To respond to the widening gap in access to higher education, the government of Tajikistan introduced quotas to admit girls from rural areas to higher education institutions. As empirical literature specifically focusing on access and persistence in higher education in Tajikistan is limited, the chapter draws on policy documents, statistical data, reports of international organizations, available research articles, media sources, and an interview with an alumna of the quota program. It aims to explore the barriers women face in accessing and persisting in higher education as well as the challenges in the implementation of the quota program. The chapter discusses the implications for advancing, reimagining, and reinvigorating gender equality policies in higher education.