Teachers in Samarkand allegedly forced to carry out school repairs too (video)

Reports are circulating on social media claiming that teachers from a school in Samarkand were forced to carry out repair work on hazardous hills surrounding the school building. The regional Department of Preschool and School Education has responded to the situation.

Contrary to initial claims, the department clarified that the incident did not involve Secondary School No. 32, as first reported, but rather Secondary School No. 24 in the city. Officials emphasized that they condemn any form of forced labor and stated that the case is under full control, with more information to be released following an internal investigation.

According to accounts shared online, the school’s principal, deputy principals, and head of the science department allegedly forced teachers to perform manual labor outside their professional duties. The reports further claim that teachers were instructed to tell inspectors that the work was done "voluntarily" if the school were to be checked.

One teacher reportedly had their teaching hours reduced from 30 to 23 per week without written consent, alongside a cut in their additional compensation. The school administration is also accused of coercing another teacher into purchasing modern classroom equipment using personal funds.

Allegations also suggest that the heads of the Samarkand city and regional education departments were aware of these practices but took no action.

Under Uzbek law, obstructing a teacher’s ability to perform official duties can result in a fine ranging from 100 to 150 times the base calculation amount. The current base amount is 412,000 soums, meaning fines could range from 41.2 to 61.8 million soums.

Additionally, a presidential resolution issued on August 14, 2018, prohibits the involvement of public education employees in activities unrelated to their professional responsibilities. This includes forced participation in landscaping, seasonal agricultural work, and other non-teaching duties.

The Cabinet of Ministers has also passed a resolution aimed at eliminating all forms of forced labor in the country.

This is not the first such case in Uzbekistan. Previously, teachers at School No. 42 in the Markhamat district of the Andijan region were also reportedly forced to engage in repair work. Although school staff claimed the work was voluntary during interviews, the principal was dismissed from his position. He was fined 41.2 million soums, equivalent to 100 times the base amount, for coercing staff into performing non-teaching tasks.