Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a video conference on measures to improve the system of teaching foreign languages was held on 6 May.

Every year in our country, several areas of knowledge are determined, the development of which is given priority attention. This year physics and foreign languages have become such areas.

Uzbekistan’s policy of openness, active entry into the world market, expansion of international cooperation in all areas increase the need for knowledge of foreign languages.

Today, teaching in foreign languages is conducted in 25 universities in our country. In 2016, there were only 7 such universities. Over the past 3 years, the number of applicants who have received an international language certificate has increased tenfold.

This year 350 students received grants to study at prestigious foreign universities through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, which is five times more than in previous years.

However, the position of the system of teaching foreign languages on the ground does not allow effectively solving the large-scale tasks posed in this area. So, in the education system there are more than 2 thousand vacancies for a foreign language teacher. The quality of teaching languages in 1.4 thousand schools is assessed as extremely low. Only 4 percent of school teachers have national and international language certificates. In the cities of Khanabad and Kuvasay, Zafarabad, Mirishkor, Turtkul, Sherabad and Uzun districts there is not a single teacher with a certificate. 49 percent of teachers failed the certification test.

At the meeting, these and other problems in the field were comprehensively analyzed, priority tasks were identified.

- The time has come to create in our country a new system of teaching foreign languages, which will become a solid foundation for the future. Since we set ourselves the goal of building a competitive state, from now on, graduates of schools, lyceums, colleges and universities must be fluent in at least two foreign languages. This strict requirement should become the main criterion for the work of the head of each educational institution, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It was noted that an Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Languages Studies will be created under the Cabinet of Ministers.

The agency will be engaged in the implementation of proven methods, programs and textbooks into the education system, and will organize training in at least 10 foreign languages based on the needs of educational institutions, industries and regions.

The agency’s competence will also include the task of developing and introducing methods for ministries, departments and other employers that will allow employees to carry out professional activities in foreign languages.

One of the main tasks of the structure will be the creation of methods for professional translation from the state language into foreign and from foreign languages into the state.

The agency will also maintain a rating of foreign language proficiency, develop qualification requirements and criteria for assessing teachers of foreign languages and assign qualification categories to them.

In general, the main activity of the Agency will be the development and implementation of methods, recommendations and textbooks for all categories of the population along the chain "kindergarten - school - higher education - enterprise".

In addition to the Tashkent State Universities of World Languages and Oriental Studies, the Samarkand Institute of Foreign Languages, one university in each region will be determined as the base for the study of foreign languages.

The head of state emphasized the need to create decent conditions for teachers and stimulate them based on their qualifications.

The task has been set to introduce salary increments for teachers who have received an international certificate with an initial and secondary level - in the amount of 40 percent, and for those who have achieved a high level - in the amount of 50 percent.

In addition, teachers with high scores will be reimbursed for the cost of taking the international certification test. A requirement will be established according to which from next year only teachers of foreign languages with a national or international certificate can be hired.

It was noted that over the next three years, all 53 thousand teachers of foreign languages in schools should receive an international certificate. The task was set to fill vacancies in schools with qualified specialists.

Selected 207 schools in districts and cities, which will specialize in in-depth teaching of foreign languages. These schools will be given the freedom to choose foreign-made books, advanced curricula and methodologies, teaching will be conducted in a foreign language.

The khokimiyats of the regions were instructed to allocate 1 billion soums of local budget funds to each district and city to improve the quality of teaching foreign languages in schools.

The importance of attracting foreign teachers - native speakers to specialized schools and specialized universities, organizing training for teachers of foreign languages abroad was emphasized.

The head of state proposed to establish a presidential prize to determine the best schools teaching foreign languages.

The competition will be held at the district, city, regional and republican levels. The schools that won first place at the district and city levels will receive 100 million soums as a prize, the winners of the regional stage - 250 million soums, and the best school in the country - 500 million soums. Accordingly, the owners of the second and third places in the republic will also be awarded. The principals and teachers of these schools will be nominated for state awards.

The quality of teaching also depends on textbooks and teaching aids, which must comply with international standards. Therefore, the task was set to test English textbooks from the Cambridge University publishing house in 200 schools. Similar work will be done for textbooks in Russian, German, Korean, Chinese and French.

Each teacher of a foreign language will be allocated 1 million soums from the budget for the purchase of new literature and manuals that will keep abreast of the latest changes in their field.

The Ministry of Preschool Education has been instructed to develop, jointly with UNICEF, and implement guidelines for teaching foreign languages to children under the age of 7.

Special attention at the meeting was paid to the training of specialists for the higher education system.

It is indicated that the level of foreign language proficiency among 78 percent of university teachers is unsatisfactory.

It was noted that from the new academic year, the number of admission quotas for the study and teaching of foreign languages will be doubled - up to 16 thousand, and the state grant will triple.

At the same time, starting next year, a requirement for an international certificate will be introduced for applicants for master’s and doctoral studies. In higher educational institutions, the teaching of specialized subjects in a foreign language will be gradually introduced. Free use of foreign textbooks and manuals on natural and technical subjects will be introduced.

In order to increase the scientific and pedagogical potential in this area, 20 specialists will be sent abroad annually for doctoral studies through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation.

The importance of further strengthening cooperation with such foreign organizations as the British Council, Goethe-Institut, French Alliance, KOIKA, JICA, Confucius Institute, and expanding the network of non-governmental training centers was emphasized.

It was pointed out that it is necessary to stimulate the study of languages in every ministry, department, state company and large private enterprises, to introduce a special day for the study of foreign languages in them and create the necessary conditions for this.

Instructions were also given on the creation of video lessons, educational films and broadcasts, as well as the development of electronic programs.

Responsible leaders and teachers expressed their views and suggestions on the issues discussed at the video conference meeting.