Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Experts from the Institute for Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research analyzed institutional changes and the implementation in practice of laws adopted in the field of secondary and higher education in 2017-2022.

In secondary education: the adoption in December 2018 of the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to organize international research in the field of assessing the quality of education in the system of public education” created a legal basis for conducting assessments recognized by the world community in the republic.

In 2019, an assessment of the results, conducted in collaboration with UNICEF, assessed the skills of 4th grade students in three areas (reading, mathematics and science) was published. According to the results:

- students scored the highest scores in science skills such as understanding a democratic society, the rights and obligations of citizens (71.1%) and such mathematical skills as solving equations and inequalities (67.2%);

- at or above the global average of 55% student results in four science skills (remembering historical dates, understanding the environment, human health and safety, ecological orientation), two mathematics (calculations and geometry) and one reading skill (search for clearly presented information) ;

- at the threshold level (50%), the results in the skills of interpretation and integration of ideas (reading), as well as research (natural science);

- the worst results (34.1%) were noted in the skills of communication and general strategies for solving problems (mathematics) and the presentation of direct conclusions (43%);

The 2021 Grade 3 and 5 Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessment (EGRA), in collaboration with USAID, found that the quality of secondary school education (for Grade 5 students) lags behind primary school ( 3 classes). Also, the results of students who regularly attend school are higher than those who skip classes from time to time.

In 2022, in collaboration with the OECD, skills were assessed using PISA tests on reading and math literacy, creative thinking and science literacy of 15-year-old students.

According to the results of the assessments, taking into account the elimination of weaknesses identified in the assessment of students’ knowledge, textbooks of the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th grades were republished.

The adoption of the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in 2019, “On approval of the concept for the development of the higher education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030” created the legal basis for reforms in the higher education system. The resulting quantity is:

- branches of foreign higher education institutions in the first 1000 QS rating from 3 units in 2017 increased to 9;

- all foreign higher education institutions from 7 in 2017 to 28;

- private higher education institutions reached 55 units (in 2017, private universities did not function in the republic).

- Separate quotas for various segments of the population (including the vulnerable) began to be allocated.

Youth enrollment in tertiary education has risen from 9 percent in 2017 to 38 percent in 2022.