Weakened Systems of Training. The adult generation is literate and educated, but little access to or knowledge of business or technology as described above. The public education system is in trouble with deteriorating facilities, depleted budgets, underpaid teachers, and overburdened schools in both urban and rural areas. The govemment mandated in 1997 that students purchase their own textbooks, which are determined by the Ministry of Education and provided through official state publishers. Most textbooks in state systems and often the only texts available to private universities, are remnants of Soviet materials with minor editing and few revisions. Research materials are largely in the Russian language and sourced from Russian libraries or journals. The exception is select courses and materials presented through private extension at Western University and donor-supported institutes. As described earlier, most students do not have text materials or access to modem education techniques. Vocational and technical education occurs in a system of state programs for reeducation, but enrollments and funding support have declined significantly. Donor-related activities provide some opportunities, but these are associated largely with minimal skills in and crafts. Consequently. there is a generation of young workers entering the labor market, and older workers are not skilled in trades required in high-growth sectors such as and agribusiness. private training schools have expanded into an “economic subsector” that is in itself a area for business development, and these provide courses on computer programming, data and communications vital to an expanding IT service industry. Lack of individuals will remain a constraint and a challenge for business development.
