Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan will expand support measures for private school education, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a meeting with teachers and mentors ahead of their professional holiday. Presidential spokesperson Sherzod Asadov reported the new measures.
The need to expand school infrastructure is linked to the growing number of pupils. Around 800,000 children started first grade this year, 10% more than a year earlier. The number of first-graders is expected to reach 1 million by 2030.
To increase the number of places in schools, an additional 180,000–200,000 places are planned to be created annually under investment programmes.
Separate support measures will be provided to entrepreneurs willing to open private schools in 52 districts where existing schools are facing particularly high demand.
Loans for establishing non-state schools will be provided at an annual interest rate of 10% for seven years.
Founders of private educational institutions will also receive compensation for 15% of equipment costs, within a limit of 1.5 billion soums. In addition, the state will cover half of the costs associated with obtaining international accreditation.
Additional incentives will be introduced for property owners who make their premises available to schools. They will receive tax benefits on land and property.
Unused state buildings in all districts are planned to be made available for schools under free leases for 10 years.
The changes will also affect families paying tuition fees at private schools. The tax-exempt portion of parents’ income will be doubled from 3 million to 6 million soums.
Tax authorities will be required to arrange the automatic refund of part of personal income tax at the end of each month.
According to the president, the measure will allow families to save up to 6–7 million soums per year.
The measures are aimed at expanding opportunities for private-sector participation in school education amid the expected growth in the number of school-age children and rising demand for new school places.
