Are teachers' salaries increased based on seniority?

At present, there are no plans to increase teachers' salaries based on seniority, as announced by Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education, Usman Sharifkhujaev, during a recent press conference.

During the conference, Sharifkhoujaev addressed various issues related to the motivation and remuneration of teachers. He stated that there are currently 545,000 teachers categorized as higher, first, and second-class. Among them are second-class teachers with 10 years of experience and teachers with secondary and specialized education who have served for 25 years. The initial draft of the "Law on the Status of Teachers" proposed that teachers' salaries would increase with their length of service. However, this provision was subsequently removed from the law.

Sharifkhujaev also highlighted that obtaining a grade was previously challenging for teachers and was prone to corruption. Previously, a teacher could only receive a grade once every five years, whereas now, they can advance their category annually. Consequently, a graduate from a higher education institution specializing in pedagogy can achieve the highest category within three years, compared to the 15 years it previously took.

Additionally, Usman Sharifkhujaev informed that a mechanism is being developed to provide additional bonuses to teachers who pass certification and achieve international accreditation in each subject.

"Our primary objective is to reward competent, deserving, well-educated, and pedagogically skilled teachers rather than providing incentives solely based on seniority," he remarked.

He further noted that pedagogical experience alone cannot be the basis for higher salaries or incentives for teachers. The initial draft of the "Law on the Status of Teachers" proposed salary increases based on length of service, but this provision was later removed.

Usman Sharifkhujaev also mentioned that teachers assigned to remote areas receive bonuses based on their duration of service in those regions. A 10% bonus is given to those without prior experience, while a 50% increase is granted to those with more than five years of experience. This measure aims to attract teachers to remote areas.

It is also worth reminding that collecting funds from parents in schools and kindergartens is strictly prohibited.