Uzbekistan Teams Up with British Council to Train Mentor Teachers

Uzbekistan has launched a new nationwide program to train mentor teachers, a collaborative effort among the Uzbek Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the A. Avloni National Institute of Pedagogical Excellence, and the British Council.

As part of the initiative, around 20 national consultants will undergo a two-day intensive training designed to equip them with the skills to support teachers across the country in their continuous professional development (CPD), The Caspian Post reports per Uzbek media.

These consultants will provide guidance, motivation, and practical advice to help educators independently plan and enhance their professional growth, ultimately benefiting their students.

“Today, we bring together teachers chosen for an important mission - to communicate the principles of continuous professional development to their peers and assist school leaders in understanding its objectives. The ministry places great trust in them. These specialists will inspire teachers nationwide to continually refine their skills,” said Jamilya Gulyamova, Deputy Director of the British Council in Uzbekistan.

Building on last year’s success, when a similar group of consultants supported English teachers at 116 schools, this year’s cohort of 20 new specialists will collaborate with 102 CPD champion teachers in an additional 102 schools. This joint program will thus extend its reach to over 200 schools across Uzbekistan.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, innovating teacher training methods and fostering a culture of lifelong professional development. This approach empowers teachers to take charge of their own growth and transforms schools into learning centers for both students and educators,” added Gulyamova.

Each mentor consultant will be responsible for at least five teachers, assisting them in accessing resources and implementing effective teaching strategies to deliver more impactful English lessons and equip students with practical language skills.

The program is backed by the British Council and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It forms part of the British Council’s Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia (AELLCA) initiative, aligned with Uzbekistan’s national plans to reform English language teaching. The Norwich Institute for Language Education (UK) is the key academic partner in the project.