Uzbekistan Guarantees Developing a Sustainable Education
Uzbekistan: the State Guarantees Developing a Sustainable Education System
Undeniably, in the 21st century, success in development can only be achieved by those countries that have chosen to prioritise investment in human capital since the accumulated knowledge and information have now become strategic resources.
A state system of sustainable education, which consists of preschool, general secondary and primary vocational education, higher and postgraduate education, professional development and retraining, is well-developed in Uzbekistan. However, it is necessary to point out the peculiarity of the model proposed by our state, which implies a permanent learning process in which a person can gain knowledge for a long time and further improve it.
As for preschool education, the system has yet to be regulated from a constitutional-legal point of view so far. It is quite relevant and timely to introduce a new edition of the Constitution with regulations that the state creates conditions for the development of preschool education and upbringing, as well as general secondary education supervised by the state. First, this project was formed by studying the international experience, constitutions, and of foreign countries and based on proposals and initiatives of our compatriots.
Since 2017, the government has been working intensively to develop preschool education in Uzbekistan. In this regard, a specialised Ministry of Preschool Education has been created, and the Concept for the Development of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 has been adopted, which serves as a legal basis for implementing reforms in this sphere. Meanwhile, the government is expected to pay particular attention to stimulating the involvement of private capital using public-private partnerships around the globe, increasing the percentage of children in preschool education to 80.8 % by 2030, and also boosting the coverage of six-year-old children by the preschool training system to 100 % by the end of 2024-2025 academic year.
The following link in the chain of lifelong learning in school education aims to form the basic knowledge in professional staff training.
A new edition of the Constitution stipulates that the state guarantees free general secondary and primary vocational education. In contrast, public secondary education is compulsory and will serve as the constitutional basis for further sector improvement.
It should be noted that the work on radical transformation in the school sector of Uzbekistan is being carried out intensively. Over the past six years, the legal framework for improving the public education system has been updated, a revised edition of the Law "On Education" has been adopted, the Concept of Development of Public Education in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 and more than 20 legal and regulatory acts of the President and the government have been adopted.
In the "Year of Human Care and Quality Education”, several necessary measures have already been taken, including introducing complimentary meals for elementary school children at all schools.
By a state program-2023, there will be a gradual introduction of teaching students two foreign languages and one profession in one of the schools of each district (city), educational programs aimed at bringing up students in the spirit of human and national values and patriotism since the academic year 2023-2024.
Consequently, consolidating the state's status as a guarantor of free general secondary education and elementary and vocational education for the younger generation and compulsory public secondary education will serve as the constitutional basis for a radical reform of school education.
The following amendment establishes the right of citizens to obtain higher education in the state educational institutions on a competitive basis at the state’s expense. Higher educational institutions have the right to academic freedom, self-government, and freedom of research and teaching within limits established by law. The proposed formulation in the new edition of the Constitution clearly and distinctly defines the role of the state as regards obtaining higher education on a competitive basis.
Over the past six years, considerable changes have occurred in the sphere of higher education in Uzbekistan. For instance, the enrollment quotas have been increased, bringing the total coverage to 28% (five years ago, this indicator was only 9%). The number of state grants has increased. Besides, girls from needy families are given two thousand places at universities for the second year in a row. Furthermore, university entrants now have the opportunity to choose five state universities for enrollment, test exams are now staggered, and the scores are announced promptly. Besides, it is now possible to submit documents to a university online and take an admission test to Tashkent universities while staying in the region.
At the same time, the switch to a hybrid form of education (full-time, part-time, evening and distance studying) and the increase in the number of universities operating in the country, including private and branches of foreign universities, can be considered an important innovation as well.
In carrying out a fundamental reform of the higher education system, Uzbekistan is pursuing the primary goal of becoming a competitive country that invests heavily in training highly qualified personnel in demand in the labour market. Thus, the need for higher education in Uzbekistan has been growing yearly.
In education, innovations in our society must have a particular site. Inclusive education is part of them.
There are many young people in the country with specific disabilities who, despite everything, want to learn, work and be helpful to the state and society.
An amendment is proposed to the new edition of the Constitution "Inclusive education and upbringing should be provided for children with special educational needs at the educational institutions".
Inclusive education is a novelty in our society. Therefore, we can only adapt it based on international experience. At the same time, in implementing the social state model, it is necessary not only to identify but also to create conditions for the integration of young people with disabilities in the educational space of our country and their formation as full members of society.
The components of the state’s continuous education also include postgraduate education, advanced training and retraining of personnel. On September 6, 2019, the Presidential Decree "On Additional Measures for Further Improvement of the Professional Education System" was adopted. On February 26, 2021, the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Regulation on the organisation of the process of retraining and advanced training of managerial and pedagogical staff of professional educational institutions.
It should be emphasised that the role of highly qualified specialists in the innovative economy is significant and will continue to grow. In this regard, the constant renewal of professional and personal skills will contribute to consistently reforming all spheres of life and activity.
All of the amendments mentioned above to the Constitution in a new edition shall give a new impetus and dynamic character to the sustainable education system and ensure Uzbekistan’s innovative development and competitiveness worldwide.
Ranokhon Tursunova,
UWED Associate Professor,
Department of Political Science,
Doctor of Historical Science.
Undeniably, in the 21st century, success in development can only be achieved by those countries that have chosen to prioritise investment in human capital since the accumulated knowledge and information have now become strategic resources.
A state system of sustainable education, which consists of preschool, general secondary and primary vocational education, higher and postgraduate education, professional development and retraining, is well-developed in Uzbekistan. However, it is necessary to point out the peculiarity of the model proposed by our state, which implies a permanent learning process in which a person can gain knowledge for a long time and further improve it.
As for preschool education, the system has yet to be regulated from a constitutional-legal point of view so far. It is quite relevant and timely to introduce a new edition of the Constitution with regulations that the state creates conditions for the development of preschool education and upbringing, as well as general secondary education supervised by the state. First, this project was formed by studying the international experience, constitutions, and of foreign countries and based on proposals and initiatives of our compatriots.
Since 2017, the government has been working intensively to develop preschool education in Uzbekistan. In this regard, a specialised Ministry of Preschool Education has been created, and the Concept for the Development of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 has been adopted, which serves as a legal basis for implementing reforms in this sphere. Meanwhile, the government is expected to pay particular attention to stimulating the involvement of private capital using public-private partnerships around the globe, increasing the percentage of children in preschool education to 80.8 % by 2030, and also boosting the coverage of six-year-old children by the preschool training system to 100 % by the end of 2024-2025 academic year.
The following link in the chain of lifelong learning in school education aims to form the basic knowledge in professional staff training.
A new edition of the Constitution stipulates that the state guarantees free general secondary and primary vocational education. In contrast, public secondary education is compulsory and will serve as the constitutional basis for further sector improvement.
It should be noted that the work on radical transformation in the school sector of Uzbekistan is being carried out intensively. Over the past six years, the legal framework for improving the public education system has been updated, a revised edition of the Law "On Education" has been adopted, the Concept of Development of Public Education in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 and more than 20 legal and regulatory acts of the President and the government have been adopted.
In the "Year of Human Care and Quality Education”, several necessary measures have already been taken, including introducing complimentary meals for elementary school children at all schools.
By a state program-2023, there will be a gradual introduction of teaching students two foreign languages and one profession in one of the schools of each district (city), educational programs aimed at bringing up students in the spirit of human and national values and patriotism since the academic year 2023-2024.
Consequently, consolidating the state's status as a guarantor of free general secondary education and elementary and vocational education for the younger generation and compulsory public secondary education will serve as the constitutional basis for a radical reform of school education.
The following amendment establishes the right of citizens to obtain higher education in the state educational institutions on a competitive basis at the state’s expense. Higher educational institutions have the right to academic freedom, self-government, and freedom of research and teaching within limits established by law. The proposed formulation in the new edition of the Constitution clearly and distinctly defines the role of the state as regards obtaining higher education on a competitive basis.
Over the past six years, considerable changes have occurred in the sphere of higher education in Uzbekistan. For instance, the enrollment quotas have been increased, bringing the total coverage to 28% (five years ago, this indicator was only 9%). The number of state grants has increased. Besides, girls from needy families are given two thousand places at universities for the second year in a row. Furthermore, university entrants now have the opportunity to choose five state universities for enrollment, test exams are now staggered, and the scores are announced promptly. Besides, it is now possible to submit documents to a university online and take an admission test to Tashkent universities while staying in the region.
At the same time, the switch to a hybrid form of education (full-time, part-time, evening and distance studying) and the increase in the number of universities operating in the country, including private and branches of foreign universities, can be considered an important innovation as well.
In carrying out a fundamental reform of the higher education system, Uzbekistan is pursuing the primary goal of becoming a competitive country that invests heavily in training highly qualified personnel in demand in the labour market. Thus, the need for higher education in Uzbekistan has been growing yearly.
In education, innovations in our society must have a particular site. Inclusive education is part of them.
There are many young people in the country with specific disabilities who, despite everything, want to learn, work and be helpful to the state and society.
An amendment is proposed to the new edition of the Constitution "Inclusive education and upbringing should be provided for children with special educational needs at the educational institutions".
Inclusive education is a novelty in our society. Therefore, we can only adapt it based on international experience. At the same time, in implementing the social state model, it is necessary not only to identify but also to create conditions for the integration of young people with disabilities in the educational space of our country and their formation as full members of society.
The components of the state’s continuous education also include postgraduate education, advanced training and retraining of personnel. On September 6, 2019, the Presidential Decree "On Additional Measures for Further Improvement of the Professional Education System" was adopted. On February 26, 2021, the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Regulation on the organisation of the process of retraining and advanced training of managerial and pedagogical staff of professional educational institutions.
It should be emphasised that the role of highly qualified specialists in the innovative economy is significant and will continue to grow. In this regard, the constant renewal of professional and personal skills will contribute to consistently reforming all spheres of life and activity.
All of the amendments mentioned above to the Constitution in a new edition shall give a new impetus and dynamic character to the sustainable education system and ensure Uzbekistan’s innovative development and competitiveness worldwide.
Ranokhon Tursunova,
UWED Associate Professor,
Department of Political Science,
Doctor of Historical Science.