Role of Education Ministries in Uzbekistan: Are they necessary?  

On March 20 of this year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a decree abolishing the Department of Education, stating that the country no longer requires this institution. This decision raises a question: What about Uzbekistan? How beneficial are education ministries for a country that has not one but two ministries overseeing the education sector?  

Today, March 26, at a press conference held by the Agency for Information and Mass Communications, First Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations Shohrukh Daliev addressed this issue.  

"First of all, the existence and activities of ministries and government agencies in Uzbekistan are determined by law and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Specifically, regarding the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations, this ministry serves as the governing body responsible for implementing a unified state policy in the field of higher education," Daliev stated.  

He emphasized that the ministry also functions as a regulatory authority overseeing higher education institutions. "Uzbekistan now has a Republican Council of Higher Education, a model that has been adopted internationally," he added.  

According to Daliev, the Higher Education Council collaborates with universities and other higher education institutions to implement proposals and introduce new initiatives.  

"The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation primarily focuses on higher and vocational education, coordinating all activities within these institutions. As you know, higher education institutions in Uzbekistan fall into three categories: state universities, foreign universities and their branches, and non-state educational organizations. While these institutions operate independently, our main priority is to provide the youth of Uzbekistan with high-quality education. That is why this ministry exists," he explained.  

For reference, most countries have a dedicated Ministry of Education to oversee the sector. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance, while a central Ministry of Education exists, some emirates, such as Dubai, exercise autonomy in education policy through local education departments.