Uzbekistan will introduce new subsidies to support teacher certification, vocational training quality, and social assistance as part of a broader programme to boost incomes, create jobs, and reduce poverty, under a presidential decree approved for implementation from 2026 to 2028.
Under the decree, teachers and vocational training instructors will be eligible for subsidies covering 50% of the cost of obtaining internationally recognised professional certificates, as well as nationally approved certificates endorsed by the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment. The subsidy will be capped at 20 times the basic calculation amount (BHM) and will be financed through the State Employment Promotion Fund between July 1, 2026, and January 1, 2028.
The programme also introduces financial support for entrepreneurs establishing skills assessment centres, with the state reimbursing 30% of the cost of purchased assessment tools, up to 200 times the base calculation amount, to help strengthen the quality and credibility of professional qualification systems.
Beyond education, the decree also supports entrepreneurship in economically vulnerable districts, introducing family business loans at a preferential annual rate of 12% to promote self-employment and small business development. It further formalises local governance changes, allowing district and city mayors to appoint and dismiss women’s affairs activists and youth leaders to strengthen grassroots policy coordination.
The new certification subsidies form part of a broader push to strengthen teacher quality and modernise Uzbekistan’s education system. UNICEF Uzbekistan has previously stressed the importance of a teacher-led digital transformation, noting that the country’s 600,000+ educators should remain central to innovation, with technology supporting—not replacing—their role.
At the same time, Uzbekistan has begun integrating artificial intelligence into education through cooperation with OpenAI, including the rollout of ChatGPT EDU to support personalised learning and professional development for teachers.
