20 percent salary bonus introduced for preschool staff

Uzbekistan is set to establish the “New Generation” network of innovative kindergartens. Employees working in these preschool institutions will receive a monthly salary bonus. This measure is outlined in Presidential Decree No. 19, “On Measures to Further Improve the Preschool Education and Upbringing System,” signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 5.

Under the decree, the one-year preparatory program for school-ready children will now be formally included as part of the initial stage of general secondary education.

These preparatory groups may be organized within preschool institutions, schools, and other social facilities. Starting from the 2027–2028 academic year, children who complete the school preparatory program will receive a state-standard electronic certificate. Information about this certificate will also be recorded in the student’s general secondary education diploma.

The decree also establishes the “New Generation” network of preschool institutions, aimed at raising the quality of early childhood education in Uzbekistan.

Key features of the new system include:

•  Between 2026 and 2028, one such institution will be built in Karakalpakstan, regional centers, and Tashkent city;
•  Each kindergarten will host an Innovative Child Development Center, with thematic areas for robotics, creativity, science, and mathematics;
•  Through simulation activities in these centers, children will develop early interest in professions and environmental awareness.

In addition, employees working in “New Generation” preschools will receive monthly salary bonuses.

Benefits for staff:

•  Directors, teaching staff, physical education instructors, music instructors, psychologists, and teaching assistants will receive a 20 percent bonus on top of their standard tariff rate, funded from the state budget;
•  Recruitment for these positions will be conducted on a competitive basis, selecting highly qualified candidates with higher education.

It is worth noting that from 2026, funding for the construction, reconstruction, and major repairs of academic lyceums, preschool institutions, and general and specialized schools will be transferred from the national budget to local budgets.