Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Swedish company EF Education First intends to invest about US$60 million in direct investment for joint projects to develop the English language in Uzbekistan.

On 5 March 2020, Minister of Public Education of Uzbekistan Sherzod Shermatov and President of EF Education First Carl-Johann Westring signed a memorandum of understanding.

EF Education First is one of the largest private educational company in the world, which offers various educational programs in English, methods and pedagogical approaches to increase the effectiveness of learning English.

Within the framework of the document, the parties intend to create the foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

In particular, the parties plan to establish cooperation to assess the knowledge of students, teachers, and applicants, and it is also planned to conduct a series of trainings to increase knowledge and skills in developing the English language in our republic.

At the same time, the parties intend to implement programs to assess students’ knowledge of the English language. Also for students will be offered training in English.

The parties will develop joint programs for the professional development of teachers in Uzbekistan.

As part of the document, EF Education First expressed its willingness to invest US$59.27 million in direct investments to support educational programs for the development of the English language in Uzbekistan.

“Today, English is one of the most popular languages in the world. This cooperation between the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan and the company EF Education First will allow us to improve our children’s knowledge of the English language, which will provide them with an additional opportunity to achieve success in their careers,” said the Minister of Public Education of Uzbekistan Sherzod Shermatov.

It should be noted that about 5.38 million children in Uzbek schools study English as a foreign language.