President of Uzbekistan Congratulates Teachers on Teachers and Mentors Day

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the country’s educators on Teachers and Mentors Day, calling their work “the greatest and most noble mission in the world” and emphasizing the priority of education for the nation’s future.

In his congratulatory message, the head of state noted that over the past eight years Uzbekistan’s spending on education and science has increased sixfold, reaching 378 trillion soums. During this period, hundreds of kindergartens, schools, technical colleges, and universities have been built across the country. The number of preschool institutions has grown from 5,200 to 38,000, with preschool enrollment rising from 27% to 78%.

The president recalled that preschool educators’ salaries had been raised to the level of schoolteachers, while the pay of managers and teachers at kindergartens had nearly doubled. Starting next year, new “Yangi avlod” preschool institutions, focused on modern teaching methods, will begin operating in Karakalpakstan and other regions.

Mirziyoyev stressed that school education remains at the heart of reforms. In recent years, around 500 new schools have been built, creating an additional one million student places. From the new academic year, Uzbekistan will introduce a 12-year general education system and unified state examinations for 9th and 11th grade students.

He highlighted that more than 200,000 children are currently studying in private schools, giving parents greater freedom of choice.

Special attention is being given to developing the vocational education system. A new Agency for Vocational Education has been established to implement international standards and modern curricula. One hundred technical colleges will establish partnerships with educational institutions in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, China, and South Korea.

According to the president, the scope of dual education will increase fivefold, while the number of hours dedicated to foreign language instruction in technical colleges will quadruple. Next year, a digital platform will be launched, allowing employers to access data on graduates’ skills.

Over the past eight years, the number of universities in the country has risen from 77 to 202, and the number of students has grown from 250,000 to 1.5 million. Faculty salaries have increased significantly. The president emphasized that university professors and lecturers form the core of the country’s scientific community.

Mirziyoyev announced new support measures for teachers. Starting next year, 25% of the initial down payment on mortgages will be covered for top-category teachers with more than 15 years of experience. Children of teachers admitted to state universities will receive a 30% tuition discount.

Teachers will be eligible for preferential loans of up to 10 million soums to purchase computer equipment, while fees for public services for education workers will be cut in half.

In addition, future teachers admitted to the world’s top 300 universities will be able to receive educational loans of up to 20,000 US dollars.

The president stressed that raising the status and prestige of the teaching profession is a strategic priority. “We will continue working to make the profession of teacher and mentor the most important and respected in society,” he declared.

Mirziyoyev wished educators health, prosperity, and success in preparing a new generation capable of contributing to the “Third Renaissance” in the country’s history.