President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a set of proposals on February 4, aimed at further improving Uzbekistan’s preschool education and upbringing system, focusing on expanding access, raising quality standards, and strengthening human resources in the sector, presidential press service reports.
Preschool education is considered a key stage in children’s intellectual, social, and personal development. In recent years, reforms have been implemented to increase enrollment, improve educational quality, and encourage private sector participation. As a result, preschool education coverage has reached 78%. However, the target of 80% coverage has not yet been achieved, with 39 districts and cities reporting coverage levels below 70%. In addition, staffing challenges persist: 61% of educators in state kindergartens and 76% of employees in private kindergartens have only secondary specialized education.
The proposals presented aim to address these challenges through systemic changes. One of the key measures is the introduction of one-year school preparation programs as the first stage of compulsory general secondary education. These programs are intended to ensure comprehensive preparation of children for school and continuity in the learning process.
A game-based learning model will be introduced across the preschool education system, structuring the educational process around children’s abilities and interests. Learning environments are to be updated using international best practices.
Plans also include the establishment of a network of “Yangi Avlod” preschool educational institutions. Between 2026 and 2028, state-run “Yangi Avlod” kindergartens with a capacity of 120 places will be created in each region. These institutions will include Innovative Child Development Centers and introduce new staff positions, such as head educators and mentor-educators. Management staff and educators at these kindergartens will receive a monthly bonus equivalent to 20% of their tariff rate.
Non-state educational organizations providing preschool and general secondary education services will be permitted to organize one-year preparatory groups. This measure is intended to promote competition in the education services market and further expand enrollment.
Personnel training was identified as a priority area. From the 2026–2027 academic year, preschool and primary education programs at pedagogical universities will be updated in line with international experience. A dual bachelor’s degree training system (“5+1”) will also be introduced for practicing educators with secondary specialized education.
From the 2027–2028 academic year, children who complete preparatory groups will receive a state-issued electronic certificate, with the information included in their general secondary education records.
The presentation also outlined new incentives to support private sector involvement in preschool education, particularly in areas where coverage remains below 80%, excluding Tashkent. Under public-private partnership arrangements, entrepreneurs establishing preschools on vacant land plots belonging to schools or kindergartens will be exempt from rent payments for up to 30 years. A subsidy equal to 50% of per-child expenditure in state kindergartens will be provided for each enrolled child, including in private kindergartens established in 2024.
Additional support measures include preferential loans of up to UZS 5bn (over $400,000) for up to seven years for new private preschools with a minimum capacity of 150 places in low-coverage areas. The state will also compensate educators’ salaries for three years, based on state kindergarten standards, at a rate of one full-time educator per 30 children. These benefits will apply to private kindergartens located on the ground floors of new residential buildings.
Entrepreneurs operating private preschools with a capacity of at least 150 places will also receive social tax rate preferences until January 1, 2030.
During the review, the president emphasized the importance of phased implementation and thorough planning of the proposed measures, as well as the need to build a strong foundation for children’s comprehensive development through improvements in preschool education quality. Relevant instructions were issued to responsible officials.
