Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The first graduation ceremony of the Yandex Programming School was held in Uzbekistan.

The company congratulated the students who spent the year studying industrial programming in Python. Training at the Yandex Programming Schools is offered for free.

Yandex Programming Schools are part of the company’s program to support access to STEM education. The first school opened last year in Tashkent, and two more schools are planned to launch soon in Samarkand and Urgench.

“Studying at the Programming School helps students not only to master programming but also to develop critical thinking, find different ways to solve problems, and learn teamwork skills. These skills form the foundation for success in the IT field. I am very happy to congratulate the students who successfully completed the program,” noted Yuri Li, the regional manager of Yandex Go in Uzbekistan.

As part of the IT education program, Yandex will also launch programming courses for computer science teachers and provide them with access to Python teaching materials. Additionally, the company will begin recruiting young IT specialists for internships this year, helping to create a talent pool for both Yandex and the IT industry in Uzbekistan.

The Programming School is a free educational project by Yandex for high school students interested in programming and exact sciences. In Uzbekistan, the project is supported by Yandex Go. Graduates participate in major international hackathons and competitions organized by IT companies such as Google, Facebook, and Huawei; they also successfully compete in WorldSkills Juniors and enroll in specialized universities, including those abroad.