Ministry of Economy and Finance criticizes parental neglect

Are parents in Uzbekistan becoming less responsible? According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s draft Budget for 2025-2027, providing textbooks and exercise books at the state’s expense may be fostering a decline in parental responsibility and contributing to textbook neglect in the country.

History of textbook rental

To understand the shift in Uzbekistan’s textbook rental system, let’s revisit its origins and evolution. Since gaining independence, Uzbekistan’s education system has undergone multiple reforms. In 2014, the education system saw significant updates, including the establishment of the first legal framework for renting educational textbooks. On July 6, 2014, amendments to the Law “On Education” introduced a rental system for school textbooks, allowing students access to updated, modern versions.

Although this law created a foundation for a rental system as part of a public initiative to distribute textbooks, it remained theoretical until fully implemented years later. On November 6, 2019, a presidential decree introduced procedures for renting educational textbooks, and as of September 1, 2020, students in all secondary schools were able to rent textbooks.

This move aimed to ensure that textbooks featured contemporary content and up-to-date knowledge.

According to Cabinet of Ministers decisions from October 28, 2010 (VMQ-239) and March 30, 2018 (VMQ-249), the prices for publishing textbooks and teaching materials for general education institutions were set as part of the state-regulated list of essential goods and services. Textbooks prepared by authorized printing houses and purchased through direct contracts were reviewed and regulated.

However, in a significant policy shift on September 1, 2020 (No. PQ-4640), the President decreed that the preparation and printing of textbooks would follow state procurement procedures, allowing non-residents of Uzbekistan to participate. This change mandated that state procurement rules apply to all corporate clients, with price regulations on publishing textbooks removed as of October 1, 2020.

Increasing textbook rental fees

The rental fee for textbooks during the 2022-2023 academic year rose to 5,707 sums, a 108 percent increase from the previous year’s 2,740 sums.

“Rental fees are calculated by multiplying the standard rate per textbook by the number of textbooks and exercise books in each set, based on production costs. Parents have until October 1 to make the rental payment after receiving the full set of textbooks,”  the Ministry of Public Education clarified.

Following the fee increase, discussions around textbook quality and rental payments intensified. Despite efforts by authors, including foreign-educated experts, to develop textbooks with a new approach, errors and public dissatisfaction, fueled by social media, have eroded public trust. In response to parents’ protests, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered a review of the free rental system and established a task force to assess textbook quality.

Cancellation of Lease

In 2022, new reforms were carried out to improve the quality of textbooks, and according to the Presidential Decree No. PF-79, starting from the 2022-2023 school year, rent for school textbooks will be fully covered by the State budget. This made it possible for students to get textbooks for free.

It was also decided to terminate the activity of the Republican Targeted Book Fund and transfer all its functions to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education. Instead of the fund, funds allocated for the production and presentation of textbooks began to be independently managed through a separate personal treasury account.

What does the ministry need?

Above, we looked at the recent history of Uzbekistan related to school textbooks. So, why does the Ministry of Economy and Finance need to make free textbooks, which have not been established for a long time, re-paid?

The "Budget Noma" for 2025-2027 published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance provides the following forecast for renting school textbooks in 2025.

"In order to increase the participation of parents in the provision of textbooks to secondary schools, from the 2025-2026 academic year, to re-establish the system of collecting a rental fee for a set of textbooks and exercise books in grades 2-11. The printing of textbooks and exercise books at the expense of the State budget leads to a decrease in the responsibility of parents and neglect of textbooks," the Budget document says.

Also, in the Budget, the purpose of using the funds collected from textbook prices and rent is also noted.

"In 2024, the average price of a set of textbooks and exercise books for one child was 450-500 thousand sums (of which exercise books are 100-150 thousand sums). Restoration of parents' fees in the amount of 80,000 sums per set (16-18 percent of the cost of one set). 376.6 billion sums formed at the expense of these payments will be directed to cover a part of the costs of providing students with exercise books every year," the Budget document says.

A number of bloggers and journalists shared their opinions on the subject of textbook rental on social networks. Journalist and blogger Muhrim Azamxo'jaev said that Uzbekistan is a social state and should be ashamed to ask for money for textbooks.

"A country that wrote in its constitution that "this is a welfare state" should be ashamed of asking for money for textbooks given to schoolchildren. At least he should be ashamed of the inscription "social state". It has not been two years since this record was written, and there is no reason to accuse someone of writing it because it was written by bad people of the past," says the journalist.

He also said in his post that it is better to stop exploring America and follow the path of the normal world.

"If the state can't find another area to save and earn money than schools, it's better to start the work not by suddenly taxing students on textbooks, but by inspecting the work of those who publish these textbooks (perhaps textbooks are not really that expensive). And stop exploring America, and the world is normal in this area too. It is better to do what you are doing, to follow the path of the normal world," says Muhrim Azam.

Former deputy Rasul Kusherbaev made such an appeal on his Facebook page after the announcement of the budget.

"The draft budget stipulates the re-establishment of the system of collecting rent for textbooks in grades 2-11 from the 2025/2026 school year.

How to understand this: for many years parents were charged for renting textbooks in violation of the Constitution, and finally, it was stopped. That is, the implementation of the Constitution had begun.

Will the actions against the new Constitution continue? Or was the President's order a mistake, if the Ministry of Economy and Finance tries to break the will of the President?" said Kusherbaev.

Also, in his post, he asked the officials to vacate their positions if they did not have the brains to formulate the budget.

"Do the officials led by the Minister of Finance and Economy, who disgraced the children's money and destroyed the waterman's money, have the mental capacity to formulate a budget without depriving children of their rights?"

If not, leave the seat! You will be replaced by more intelligent, patriotic, people-loving young people. Those who want to derail the education system can be called "enemies of the people". Free general education is guaranteed in the old Constitution," said the former deputy.

Kusherbaev also said that the ministry is slandering parents and raised several questions.

"Dear Ministry of Finance and Economy, Minister, where did you get this statement? Were your parents irresponsible when you too used free textbooks during your school days? Who are you trying to convince with this lie? This is red slander. Can't find another excuse to stretch your budget? The new Constitution also guarantees free general education. Or do you want to say that the position of the President on restoring social justice has changed? Or do you want to signal to the people that the President's assignment was a mistake?" asked Rasul Kusherbaev.

He also proposed to stop the concessions given to certain monopolistic groups if they do not have enough money in the budget.

"If the budget is not enough, stop the privileges given to certain monopolistic groups. The budget will cost you several times more than you think. If you say, 'You're exaggerating, that wasn't our goal,' please cancel the privileges granted to certain groups.

You even studied in universities without paying a contract. Everything was free for you. After you have reached the position, the child allowance was discredited, and the water allowance was also destroyed, saying 'pay for everything'. I am against the fact that textbooks are paid for. There will be no development in an indifferent society," said the former deputy.

So, will the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is trying to revise the presidential decree, comment on the situation after the opinions and appeals? Follow the development of events at QALAMPIR.UZ.