Education System of Uzbekistan

Since 1991, from the first year of Independence, youth policy in general, and development of education system in particular has been of high importance of the state policy of Uzbekistan.

Till 2018, secondary education system of Uzbekistan was divided into two stages. The first stage includes nine years of compulsory schooling with the same programs all over Uzbekistan. The second stage covered three years and included either academic secondary education (high schools, admission to which was based on the results of entrance exams) or specialized secondary education (vocational colleges). Reforms started with new President of Uzbekistan have touched education field too, and according to the Decree on measures for improving system of education, signed on January 25, 2018, Uzbekistan introduced mandatory 11-year general secondary education from 2018/2019 academic year. Vocational colleges started to accept graduates general educational schools on voluntary basis to receive professions. The education term is such colleges now from six months to 2 years.

Compulsory-type education provided by the State is free. There are 9,691 schools including 86 special schools for disabled children. In the year’s 2018 to 2019, the number of pupils in these schools reached over 5,82 million. This form of education allows the country to reach the 98,2 percent literacy rate. Together with state schools system, Uzbekistan is introducing and developing private schooling. Special Resolutions on Private education are offering big tax privileges and cheap loans to ones who establish educational establishments. From 2012, together with Russian, other foreign languages, predominantly English, are taught in all schools of Uzbekistan from first classes. The Uzbekistan government builds schools; purchases equipment, material, and textbooks; educates teachers; conducts research; creates curricula and methodologies of teaching; and establishes examination procedures.

General secondary education in Uzbekistan instructed in several languages: together with 8853 Uzbek schools, there are 366 Karakalpakh, 862 Russian, 370 Kazakh, 244 Tadjik, 43 Turkmen and 42 Kyrgyz schools in the country. Education in Uzbekistan is unisex, there is no special schools for boys or girls. Till this academic year, there were dress codes at schools and colleges but there were no strict uniforms that students should wear. From year 2018-2019 The government of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on a single modern school uniform for state general education institutions. Commenting this decision, the President stated that “School uniforms play a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of schools, support positive behavior, discipline and moral values. Secondly, the lack of uniforms may lead to neglect by pupils from wealthy families towards poorly dressed pupils. This is what we must eradicate.” Good success at school is important for schoolchildren, as annually of about 70 thousand university entrants, 20 % receive full (a 4 year) State scholarship.

Together with general secondary education, Mirziyoyev started big reforms in preschool education as only 33 percent of preschool children were covered in Uzbekistan by kindergartens, while in Japan – 97, in South Korea – 95 percent. The newly formed Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan was tasked to organize complete coverage of children with kindergartens.