A 12-year school education will be introduced in Uzbekistan starting from 2026. Along with it, unified state exams will be implemented for students of the 9th and 11th grades, as well as a new admission procedure for technical schools and universities — directly based on the results of these exams. The changes were announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his congratulatory address on Teachers’ and Mentors’ Day.
Education reform in Uzbekistan
From the next academic year, major changes in the education system will come into force in Uzbekistan. In his address on the occasion of Teachers’ and Mentors’ Day, celebrated in the republic on October 1, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the introduction of a 12-year school education and unified state exams for students of the 9th and 11th grades. Admission to technical schools and universities will be carried out directly based on the results of these exams.
The reform provides for the creation of a system in which students’ scores on unified state exams will become the main criterion for selection into vocational and higher education institutions. This is part of a broader modernization program that the authorities describe as an important step toward improving the quality of education and enhancing graduates’ competitiveness.
The president also announced plans to introduce new formats of education in technical schools. In particular:
- In 100 technical schools, cooperation will be established with educational institutions in Germany, the UK, Switzerland, China, and South Korea to introduce their advanced programs.
- In 14 technical schools, international programs will be launched in in-demand professions in tourism, IT, medicine, construction, logistics, electrical engineering, energy, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, and the creative economy with the support of the British company Pearson.
- The volume of dual education will be increased fivefold, and the hours of foreign language study in technical schools will be increased fourfold.
- A digital platform will be created where employers can access data on graduates’ professional skills.
In the general education system, the position of a school advisor will be introduced to provide career guidance to students starting from the 7th grade.
In addition, the authorities plan to continue improving teachers’ working conditions:
- Covering 25% of the initial mortgage payment for top-category teachers with over 15 years of experience.
- A 30% discount on tuition fees at state universities for teachers’ children.
- A preferential loan of up to 10 million soums for teachers to purchase computer equipment.
- A twofold reduction in payment for public services for education sector employees.
- A preferential education loan of up to $20,000 for future teachers admitted to the world’s top 300 universities.
According to the president, over the past eight years, state spending on education has increased sixfold, reaching 378 trillion soums. Hundreds of new kindergartens, schools, technical schools, and universities have been built, and the number of student places has been expanded. The number of universities has increased from 77 to 202, while the number of students has risen from 250,000 to 1.5 million.
The president emphasizes that the changes are aimed at preparing specialists capable of competing in modern conditions and at forming an education system that meets international standards.
Analysis: What the reforms mean for Uzbekistan’s education system
The decision to introduce a 12-year school education and unified state exams is the largest education reform in Uzbekistan in recent decades. These measures are formally aimed at improving the quality of education and standardizing graduation assessments, creating the prerequisites for more transparent admission to universities and technical schools.
A strong aspect of the reform is the integration of international programs and the strengthening of dual education, which may increase graduates’ competitiveness in the labor market. The expansion of foreign language learning and the creation of a digital platform for monitoring graduates’ skills may facilitate employment both within the country and abroad.
However, the reform also faces potential risks:
- The scale of the transition to a 12-year education requires significant resources — human, financial, and infrastructural. Success depends on how quickly the system can adapt.
- The introduction of unified exams increases the burden on students and requires transparent mechanisms for verifying results to avoid corruption risks.
- The expansion of dual education and international cooperation depends on the quality of the teaching staff and the readiness of educational institutions to adopt new standards.
The reform is likely to be long-term in nature, affecting not only the school system but also the labor market, the economy, and the social structure. Its outcome will depend on the implementation of the announced plans, the ability of teachers and administrators to cope with the scale of changes, and on how accessible the new system remains for all segments of the population.