Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been presented with information about the key priorities for preschool and school education in Uzbekistan for 2025.

The state’s focus on these key levels of the education system, which play a critical role in personality development, continues to grow. Every year, new educational institutions are opened, teacher qualifications are improved, and textbooks and teaching materials are updated to meet modern standards.

Preschool education is entering a new stage of development, inspired by successful international practices. Over recent years, the number of preschools has increased eightfold, reaching 38,000, and the coverage of preschool education has risen from 27% to 76%.

School education in Uzbekistan has become a national priority. In the past seven years, more than 5,000 schools have been built and renovated, including 608 this year. Inclusive education has been introduced for the first time in 530 schools.

The Minister of Preschool and School Education presented further plans, highlighting that in 2025, over 100 new schools will be opened, creating 257,000 new student places. State educational programs will be aligned with international standards. The number of schools offering a second foreign language will increase to 420, and the number of institutions providing vocational education will reach 400.

Modern international practices and methods are being implemented. In particular, a new assessment system has been introduced this year in 1,500 general education schools, and next year it will be expanded to more schools.

A digital system for assigning qualification categories to teachers has been implemented. Teachers who successfully upgrade their categories will receive bonuses of up to 70% of their base salary, depending on the points they accumulate.

The President emphasized the need to improve the qualification exam process, create healthy competition, and ensure equal conditions for all teachers. To this end, starting in 2025, the curricula in regional centers for professional development will be revised, and a differentiated system for teacher development will be introduced.

Teachers who fail the qualification exams will undergo additional training through a separate program. In the regions, five modern pedagogical mastery centers, equipped with technology for situational training and virtual laboratories, will be established.

Material incentives will also be provided for school and preschool directors, as well as their deputies, using additional funding sources.

Special attention is being given to harmonizing the educational and developmental processes. In accordance with a Presidential decree from November 15 this year, emphasis is placed on the system of pre-service military training for schoolchildren. The number of hours devoted to military-patriotic education in high school has been increased, and a system for granting military ranks to teachers in this area has been introduced to raise their prestige.

New textbooks on these subjects will be prepared before the start of the next academic year, and highly qualified teachers will be involved. In collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, "Schools of Courage" will be opened in 208 educational institutions, where adolescents with behavioral issues will also be trained.

An important document aimed at improving preschool education was adopted on September 30. Starting in 2025, the position of deputy director will be introduced in preschool educational institutions. New formats for professional development will also be introduced, including "Methodical Mastery Hour" and "Methodical Mastery Day."

Next year, 162 preschool educational institutions will be built, 100 private kindergartens will be opened, and 1,000 family kindergartens will be established. This will increase preschool education coverage to 78%.

There are also plans to strengthen the integration of curricula for preschool preparation groups and primary school grades.