Alef Education partners with Soro AI to bring AI-powered learning to 250,000 students in Tajikistan
UAE-based Alef Education has partnered with Soro AI Limited to introduce artificial intelligence-powered learning solutions to around 250,000 students in Tajikistan, with plans to expand the initiative into four other Asian markets.
Announced on November 3, 2026, the partnership will combine Alef Education's personalised learning platform, Alef Pathways, with Soro AI's local-language technology and AI curriculum expertise.
The collaboration will initially focus on Tajikistan before exploring opportunities in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Its aim is to provide curriculum-aligned learning experiences tailored to students' proficiency levels, local languages and national education requirements.
Pilot programme to begin in Tajikistan in 2027
The first phase will involve an English Pathways pilot for Grade 11 students and teachers at selected public schools in Tajikistan, planned for January 2027, subject to implementation readiness.
The pilot will introduce Alef's English learning content, with materials adapted to students' proficiency levels and designed to complement existing classroom teaching.
The companies will assess student participation, learning progress and teacher feedback to guide the next stage of the programme.
Geoffrey Alphonso, CEO of Alef Education, said the partnership would help extend the company's personalised learning expertise to new communities while taking into account their languages, curricula and educational priorities.
He said understanding how students learn and what teachers need was essential to expanding access to quality education across different education systems.
Mathematics and Science to follow
Following the initial English pilot, Alef Education and Soro AI plan to extend the collaboration to Mathematics and Science.
The content will be adapted to local curricula and languages of instruction, while Alef Pathways will be integrated with Soro's existing AI-powered learning and teaching tools.
The companies are targeting a wider deployment from September 2027, subject to technical readiness, curriculum alignment and the required approvals.
Soro AI's education ecosystem includes SoroLLM, a local large language model developed by zehnlab.ai, alongside applications designed to support students, teachers and parents.
Its AI curriculum is set to be delivered across approximately 4,000 schools in Tajikistan, reaching around 250,000 students. Integrating Alef Pathways is expected to expand the range of subject-learning resources available to schools and support teachers in addressing different student needs.
Azizjon Azimi, founder of zypl.ai, said the partnership would build on efforts to make artificial intelligence more accessible and relevant to schools across Tajikistan.
He said the collaboration aimed to develop solutions that reflect local education priorities, support classroom teachers and help students strengthen their knowledge and skills.
Partnership supports Alef Education's Asian expansion
Beyond Tajikistan, the companies are exploring opportunities to introduce locally adapted learning solutions in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
The expansion will focus on aligning educational content with national curricula, local languages and the specific requirements of each country's education system.
The partnership was announced alongside AICONF, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 30 and 31, 2026.
