School director dismissed for forcing teachers to do renovation work

The director of school No. 42 in the Markhamat district of Andijan region has been dismissed after it was revealed that teachers were made to carry out renovation work on the school premises. This was confirmed by the regional Department of Preschool and School Education.

According to the statement, although the school staff claimed during interviews that the cleanup and renovation work (hashar) was voluntary, the director, identified as Z.M., was removed from his position for failing to prevent teachers from engaging in duties beyond their official responsibilities.

For context, the general education school No. 42, located in the "Yangi Hayot" mahalla of Markhamat district, was built in 1982 and underwent renovations in 2005. In 2023, as part of the "Initiative Budget" project, new doors and frames worth 1.2 billion soums were installed. In 2024, an additional 1.3 billion soums was allocated to build a sports field and modernize the school’s façade. Currently, 74 teachers are employed at the school, teaching a total of 1,236 students.

A video that circulated online shows all the working teachers involved in the renovation are women, including English, Russian, and mathematics teachers. Some are seen plastering walls and ceilings, while others are moving furniture. Notably, some teachers participated in the renovation even while on vacation. The video also suggests that teachers who took part in the renovation would be rewarded with additional teaching hours.

Earlier, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education had also issued a statement regarding the incident, addressing the concerns about educators being tasked with non-teaching duties.