Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 22 May, within the framework of the second day of the Movement of Five Initiatives of the city of Tashkent, open dialogues of youth were organized with the Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Foreign Economic Relations - Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov, Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education Abdukadyr Tashkulov, Minister of Public Education Sherzod Shermatov, as well as First Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Ulugbek Azamov.

Representatives of the authorities personally took part in this major event, thereby showing that one of the priority directions of the state's development is taking care of the younger generation, its involvement in various spheres.

At the meeting with the Minister of Public Education Sherzod Shermatov, topical issues were raised that reveal the problems in the public education system.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister stressed that he was in favor of holding informal meetings in the format of a dialogue, expressed his readiness to answer any questions and listen to all proposals.

- For example, they tell me that there should be 24 students in the class, not 35. I would really like that! If we calculate, then it will take 9 trillion soums to complete this work alone for one academic year. About 5-6 trillion soums are allocated for teaching physics and mathematics. Due to budget constraints, it is impossible to do everything at once. As for an open dialogue with successful specialists, there are no restrictions, the Minister of Public Education said.

The Minister of Public Education stressed that young people need to read literature in English in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and for this, of course, learn a foreign language.

Most of the event participants, volunteers and guests were from among college and university students, therefore, the youth reacted with particular interest to the meeting with the Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education Abdukodir Toshkulov.

- Over the past four years, the education system has been reformed. Foreign and private universities are opening today. The number of state higher education institutions has increased. Today their number has reached 137. For example, in 2016 there were 77. In 2016, 235 thousand students studied, today 640 thousand.

Young people actively asked questions of interest, some suggested measures to improve the educational system.

A proposal was voiced to introduce active interaction with international universities, foreign specialists in order to exchange experience and improve the efficiency of the educational process.

The minister supported the proposal and promised to implement it:

“It will definitely be. We started, but at that moment there was a pandemic. Since September, this has been included in all plans. And the universities that will do this will raise their ratings. But there is another problem. We do not even work with foreign universities, whose branches are located in Tashkent. First you need to establish cooperation with them."

The minister also noted that now there are 58 thousand places in dormitories to accommodate students. That is, 28 percent of the demand is covered.

The President instructed to send 4.4 trillion soums, due to which dormitories for 96 thousand places will be built by 2025. By September 1, an additional 35 thousand places will be created for students through the installation of bunk beds in dormitories.

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ulugbek Azamov spoke in an open dialogue within the framework of the second day of the Movement of Five Initiatives of the city of Tashkent on the development of internal and external tourism and related issues.

He stressed the need to use the existing tourism potential, pay special attention to the offer of tourism products, guides, and enrich websites with accurate and complete information. They also noted plans to create a Smart Museum using 3D technologies and holograms.

- In the field of tourism, 60 percent of employees are young people. Tourism remains a strategic direction and conditions for domestic and foreign travelers are being created across the country. This year it is planned to open about a thousand family guest houses, this step will create about 2,500 jobs. He noted that recently, 150 new travel companies have appeared, which will also have a positive effect on the development of the service sector. In the future, there is potential for the directions of gastronomic and agritourism, along with classic types

It was also noted that in the new academic year, there will be more physical education lessons in all schools.

 - The young generation needs to be involved in sports from childhood. Therefore, from the 2021-2022 academic year in all secondary schools of the country, the number of physical education and sports lessons will be increased to 2 hours per week, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Foreign Economic Relations - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov, at a meeting with young people, listened to the questions of each participant and expressed his intention to address them specifically.

It was a surprise for everyone that Sardor Uktamovich dictated his mobile number to everyone present. This number, as he said, can be called with appeals. The minister openly answered all questions from the audience - about cryptocurrency, investment projects, cooperation with European countries, benefits for exporting products, online stores, forced labor and many others.

The ministers have repeatedly emphasized the need for youth to receive education, instill in them a love for sports, culture, reading and the IT sphere.

Thus, young men and women had the opportunity to ask questions on topics of interest to them and communicate directly with representatives of the authorities.