By the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation have been reorganized into a single Ministry of Education and Science.
06.10.2026
By a decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation have been reorganized into a single Ministry of Education and Science. The main objective of this reform is to establish an integrated system of education, upbringing, and science in the country in line with modern requirements, improve the quality and effectiveness of education, and take efforts to develop human capital to a new level.
The reform also aims to ensure continuity and coherence among all types and levels of education, introduce a unified and effective management system covering all stages from preschool education to higher education as well as scientific activities, and increase its accountability to the public.
It is natural to ask: “What is the main essence and significance of the current reforms in the field of education?”
The key ideas behind the President’s decision to merge the two ministries are as follows:
The Ministry of Education and Science should organize the activities of all preschool, school, professional, and higher education institutions and be responsible for their operational processes, establish requirements for educational activities, and oversee accreditation and licensing.
The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education should serve as a specialized laboratory responsible for developing curricula, educational materials, and methodological resources, implementing them in practice, monitoring their outcomes, and continuously improving them based on identified shortcomings. This work will be carried out in accordance with the “profile of a graduate of an Uzbek school” defined by the President.
The Presidential Administration and a dedicated working group to be established under it will develop the structure of the new ministry, review its work processes, prepare proposals for their improvement, and determine the overall strategy of the reform.
In higher education, state intervention should be significantly reduced, institutional autonomy should be expanded, and greater opportunities should be created for the private sector. The quality of education provided by each higher education institution should ultimately be determined by free competition and market demand.