The upcoming presidential election is not only important for Moscow. In Chechnya, college students hope the next president will continue to develop education in the republic. For some, it's the only chance to achieve their dreams.

After anti-terrorist campaigns in Russia's republic of Chechnya ended in 2004 reconstruction work began, but it's not nearly as simple as opening schools and universities.

Those who couldn't get an education and were not allowed to move freely across the country between 1996 and 2003, are now given privileges, according to Zaur Kindarov from the medical faculty of Chechen State University.

“Children of war need rehabilitation,” he noted.

Despite some problems the students themselves are very optimistic. For many studying well can really pay off.

“On the initiative of the president our students will go to the Munich Medical University. We hope they’ll become good doctors,” Shakhman Dokhshukaev, a student, said.

It’s a long way from home, but they have their plans.

“I’d like to become a heart surgeon, but I’m afraid they don’t have proper facilities for training good cardiologists here yet,” one of the students explained.

But while the situation in the Chechen capital Grozny is getting better every day, mountain regions of the republic are not so lucky. Villages were destroyed and they are isolated from one another, which makes education or medical help more difficult to provide.

But the government has found a very businesslike and seemingly effective solution.

“We are working at an agreement between the Ministry, a future student, a university and a local head of administration that would oblige a graduate to work for three-four years in a local community,” Anzor Muzaev from Chechen Ministry of Education and Science said.

And while officials plan and builders construct, students enjoy all the aspects of student life.