President announces Harvard-focused school and national gifted youth program

A new international school aimed at preparing students for admission to top U.S. universities, including Harvard, will be established in Uzbekistan. The school, named the Al-Beruni International School, was announced during a videoconference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on May 15, focused on advancing reforms in the school education system.

During the meeting, it was noted that only 1 percent of Uzbek youth studying abroad are admitted to universities ranked in the global “Top 100.” At the same time, the cost difference between studying at a “Top 10” university and a “Top 200” university is relatively minor—only 15–20 percent.

“Our young people are very talented. If we guide them systematically, help them choose the right university, and provide targeted training, our performance indicators will significantly improve,” the President emphasized.

President Mirziyoyev announced the signing of a major decree on the launch of the national program "Gifted Children of the President" and the establishment of a new elite institution referred to as the “School of Harvardians.”

The institution, officially named the Al-Beruni International School, will operate as an international school. This year, 60 students who have completed the 8th grade will be selected to undergo intensive training to prepare them for admission to top-tier universities.

As part of the broader initiative, 208 advisors from the Presidential and specialized schools will be assigned to general education schools across the country. These advisors, under the framework of the national program, will annually identify 3,000 of the most promising students and prepare them for entry into prestigious U.S. institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Cornell.

It is worth recalling that the "El-Yurt Umidi" Foundation is also undergoing reform. It is being restructured into the "El-Yurt Umidi Foundation for the Training of Promising Personnel under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan". Gulnoza Saidiganihojaevna Ismailova has been appointed as the executive director of the reorganized foundation.