Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has extended warm congratulations to Uzbekistan’s educators on Teachers and Mentors Day, praising their work as “the greatest and most noble mission in the world” and reaffirming education as a cornerstone of the nation’s future development.
In his message, the president spotlighted significant achievements over the past eight years, noting a sixfold increase in government spending on education and science, which now totals 378 trillion soums, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.
This surge in investment has led to the construction of hundreds of kindergartens, schools, technical colleges, and universities across the country. The number of preschool institutions has skyrocketed from 5,200 to 38,000, with preschool enrollment jumping from 27 per cent to 78 per cent.
Highlighting improvements in teacher welfare, Mirziyoyev noted that preschool educators’ salaries have been raised to match those of schoolteachers, while wages for kindergarten staff and administrators have nearly doubled. He announced the launch next year of new “Yangi avlod” (New Generation) preschools, which will emphasize modern teaching techniques and open in Karakalpakstan and other regions.
School education remains at the heart of reform efforts, with nearly 500 new schools built recently, creating over one million additional student places. Uzbekistan will also adopt a 12-year general education system starting this academic year, alongside unified state exams for 9th and 11th grade students.
Mirziyoyev pointed out that more than 200,000 children currently attend private schools, offering families greater choice and diversity in education.
Vocational education reforms are progressing rapidly. A newly established Agency for Vocational Education is tasked with implementing international standards and modern curricula. One hundred technical colleges are set to establish partnerships with institutions from Germany, the UK, Switzerland, China, and South Korea. The reach of dual education programs is expected to increase fivefold, while foreign language instruction hours in technical colleges will quadruple. A digital platform launching next year will allow employers to access detailed information on graduates’ skills.
Higher education has also seen rapid expansion: the number of universities has grown from 77 to 202, and student enrollment has increased from 250,000 to 1.5 million. Faculty salaries have risen significantly, reflecting the crucial role university professors and lecturers play in advancing the country’s scientific community.
To further support educators, President Mirziyoyev announced new benefits starting next year. Top-category teachers with over 15 years of experience will receive 25 per cent coverage of their mortgage down payment. Children of teachers admitted to state universities will enjoy a 30 per cent tuition discount. Teachers will be eligible for preferential loans up to 10 million soums for computer equipment, and public service fees for education workers will be halved. Future teachers admitted to universities ranked among the world’s top 300 will have access to educational loans of up to $20,000.
The president emphasized that raising the prestige and status 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 said.
Mirziyoyev concluded by wishing educators health, prosperity, and success in preparing a new generation ready to contribute to Uzbekistan’s “Third Renaissance.”
