New schools and kindergartens to open as Uzbekistan revamps education sector

More than 100 new schools will be established in Uzbekistan for the next academic year, creating 257,000 additional student places. This announcement was made during a briefing held on December 24, where the President reviewed priority tasks for the preschool and school education systems set for 2025.

As part of these initiatives, the national education program will align with international standards. The number of schools offering a second foreign language will expand to 420, while vocational training will be introduced in 400 schools. A digital system has also been implemented to assign qualification categories to teachers. Educators who improve their qualifications will receive bonuses of up to 70 percent, depending on their performance.

The President emphasized enhancing the qualification test process to ensure fairness and create a competitive environment for teachers. From next year, regional training centers will adopt differentiated training based on teachers' needs. Those who do not pass qualification tests will undergo additional training under specialized programs. Five Pedagogical Skills Centers will begin operating with modern facilities, including situational learning tools and virtual laboratories.

In a move to attract and support school and kindergarten leaders, material incentives will be provided to directors and their deputies through additional resources.

Further, the President highlighted the integration of education and patriotic upbringing. A resolution passed on November 15 introduced measures to improve pre-conscription training for students. Military patriotism lessons in senior grades will be increased by one hour, and teachers involved in this program may receive military ranks. By the next academic year, new textbooks will be developed, and highly qualified teachers will be recruited for these courses. In collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, 208 schools will host “Courage Schools,” including programs for students with challenging backgrounds.

Preschool education is also receiving significant attention. A decree adopted on September 30 aims to improve the quality of early childhood education. From 2025, preschools will introduce deputy director positions. Training programs such as “Methodical Mastery Hour” and “Methodical Mastery Day” will be implemented to enhance teaching methods.

Next year, 162 new preschool institutions will be constructed, alongside 100 private and 1,000 family-based kindergartens, boosting preschool education coverage to 78 percent. Efforts will focus on aligning primary school curricula with preparatory preschool programs.

The President instructed that special attention be given to improving general education quality, particularly in remote areas, ensuring balanced development across all regions.