Student denied entry over uniform was actually late — Sherzodkhon Kudrathuja (video)

On 16 February, social media reports claimed that dozens of students at the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan (UZJOKU) had been denied entry to classes for not wearing uniforms and arriving late.

In a video shared by student Bahodir Eliboyev, first-year master’s student Akmal Yuldoshev said he had been barred from class for not wearing a tie. The video also claimed that such situations lead to additional costs for students under the credit system.

On 17 February, UZJOKU rector Sherzodkhon Kudrathuja commented on the situation, saying the students had not been denied entry for not wearing ties but for arriving late.

“Please note that from 5:30–6:00 in the morning our professors—many of them women—take their children to school, take care of family responsibilities and travel by public transport to arrive at the university by 8:00–8:15. Meanwhile, a student arrives at 8:30 with a bottle of water and a hot dog or hamburger, without even having breakfast at home,” the rector said.

Kudrathuja also commented on criticism expressed on social media, raising the issue of outside interference in higher education.

“First, I would ask: who has the right to interfere in higher education? If a jeweller makes a ring, no one teaches him how to do it. No one teaches a potter how to make a jug. Yet today many people give advice to mayors and rectors. I do not want to speak about this now,” he said.

The rector added that the university has a code of conduct, and each year professors, staff, students and doctoral candidates review and voluntarily sign agreements acknowledging these requirements.

“If the university is putting pressure on someone or preventing a student from studying, then they should not study here. But I repeat: UZJOKU is a liberal and free university,” Kudrathuja said.

Following the discussions, on 17 February Akmal Yuldoshev posted a photo of himself in uniform on his Facebook page.

Earlier, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation commented on reports about the introduction of a unified student uniform for all universities and institutes.