Tashkent ( WNAM MONITORING): A ceremonial event dedicated to Teachers’ and Mentors’ Day was held in Bostanlyk District of Tashkent Region, attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The head of state congratulated educators who have dedicated their lives to raising and teaching the younger generation, expressing deep respect and gratitude. He emphasized that he always presents awards to representatives of this profession with a special sense of honor.
According to a presidential decree dated September 11, a group of education and training system employees demonstrating outstanding results received honorary titles, orders, and medals. Entrepreneurs who built schools with their own funds, as well as foreign partners supporting the implementation of advanced practices, were also recognized. During the meeting, state awards were ceremoniously presented, and representatives of the education sector spoke on behalf of the laureates, expressing appreciation for the attention and support.
Following the ceremony, a dialogue on the development of the education system took place, attended via video link by more than 40,000 teachers and mentors from across the country.
The President noted that over the past eight years, the national economy has doubled, with GDP expected to reach $130 billion by the end of the current year. On this basis, spending on education and science has increased sixfold, reaching 378 trillion soms. Mirziyoyev emphasized that improving the quality of education and enhancing the working and living conditions of teachers will remain a key priority of reforms.
Special attention has been given to preschool education. In 2017, more than 4,000 mahallas had no kindergartens, and coverage was only 27%. Today, the country has over 38,000 kindergartens with 78% coverage, which is expected to exceed 80% in the near future. New conditions have been created for educators: salaries have nearly doubled, subsidies for private kindergartens have been introduced, and caregivers have been given the opportunity to pursue higher education without leaving their jobs.
The President stressed that school education remains the cornerstone. Currently, 6.5 million students are enrolled in schools, approximately 500 new schools have been built, and over 1 million student places have been created. Unified state exams have been introduced for grades 9 and 11, enabling about 400,000 graduates to enter vocational colleges. For university entrants, advanced study programs are being implemented, and international certificates will be recognized during final assessments.
Mirziyoyev announced 2026 as the Year of Training Youth in Modern Professions. A Professional Education Agency is being established, and programs from Germany, Switzerland, China, Korea, and the UK are being implemented in 100 technical colleges. Youth will have the opportunity to earn international certificates according to foreign standards. In collaboration with British Pearson, a BTEC program has launched in 14 colleges, covering tourism, IT, medicine, construction, mechanical engineering, and biotechnology.
The development of professional education will be closely linked to large-scale investment projects: 456 industrial projects worth $45 billion are planned to launch in 2026 alone. Dual training will be introduced in technical colleges, with coverage expected to increase fivefold.
The President also addressed science and higher education. Over eight years, the number of universities has grown from 77 to 202, and the student body from 250,000 to 1.5 million. An additional 100 billion soms will be allocated to support research and development. Universities have been tasked with establishing cooperation with top-500 global universities in key areas, including IT, medicine, green energy, and agrotechnology.
Social support measures for educators were also announced. Starting next year, the state will cover 25% of the initial mortgage payment for teachers with the highest category and at least 15 years of service. Children of teachers entering universities will receive a 30% tuition discount. Teachers will have access to preferential loans for purchasing computers, and the cost of government services for them will be halved. Monthly salary supplements will be introduced for holders of national and international certificates.
“Our initiatives have a simple goal: if every child masters a profession and can earn, families will enjoy prosperity, and peace and harmony will prevail in the mahallas. I am confident parents will support this,” emphasized Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
During the meeting, the President discussed with teachers and students proposals for further developing the education system, stressing that the role of teachers and mentors remains central to building the country’s future.
