Uzbekistan lies along the famous ancient silk road between Europe and the far-East. Landlocked in the middle of Central Asia, it covers 447,000 square kilometers. Almost three-fifths of its land consists of steppe, desert, and semi-arid terrain and the remainder, fertile valleys that skirt two major rivers - the Arnu Darya and Syr Darya. Uzbekistan declared its independence on August 31, 1991. The present national frontiers of Uzbekistan (after incorporation into Soviet Union in 1924) was established as result of the policy of National Demarcation in 1929. The reason for this demarcation was an establishment of strong economic interdependence between all regions of the Soviet Union.

Uzbekistan has the largest population of the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan). Of its 22 million people, 60 percent live in rural areas and about half of the population is under 19 years of age. The birth rate in Uzbekistan is 3.5 percent. The majority of the population (about 72 percent) is Uzbek. Other major ethnic groups include Russians (8 percent), Tajiks and Kazakhs (about 4 percent each), Tatars and Karakalpaks (about 2 percent each), and Koreans, Persians, and Turks (about 1 percent each). Uzbekistan's population is largely Sunni Muslim. In ten-ns of administrative structure, Uzbekistan consists of 12 provinces and an independent territory (Karakalpakstan). According to the Constitution of Uzbekistan, which was approved by the Parliament on December 8, 1992, the Uzbek language is the state language. Education is carrying on in 7 languages.. Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen. Study of Korean, Tatar and other languages is providing in areas of compact residing of above citizens in accordance with desire of parents. Since September 1996 long-term governmental programme of transition of Uzbek language from Cyrillic to Latin script has been started. Until 1924 the script of Uzbek language was Arable. Then script was replaced by Latin and by Cyrillic in 1940.

The unemployment level has remained very low. However, most public enterprises are privatizing, which could lead increasing competition in labour market. The approval of the Employment Act in 1991 and the establishing over 100 employment centers around the country are the signal of some progress in this area. Labour mobility in Uzbekistan is still low. The social dimension of stabilization and enterprise restructuring require great attention for the social safety net, which the Government is committed to maintain. In this context, the Government: (1) offering income support to those who would otherwise fall below the poverty line (such as children in large families and the elderly), 11) extending assistance to those who are affected adversely by the transition, 111) targeting scarce resources to those who are most in need.

Uzbekistan's estimated GNP per capita level for 1995 is about US $960. Nonetheless, Uzbekistan is endowed with substantial natural resources-primarily gold, oil, natural gas, coal, silver, and cooper. Uzbekistan is major agricultural producer. Approximately 40 percent of the 1995 net material product was generated in agriculture, 33 percent in industry, 14 percent in construction, and the rest in services. It is the world's fourth largest producer of cotton and third largest exporter. Land used for agriculture comprises over 30 Million hectares, two-thirds of which is used for livestock production. The rapid increase in agricultural production in recent years came from an expansion in irrigated areas, which led to reduction in the volume of the Aral Sea and serious environmental problems. At present, the irrigated area is about 4.23 million hectares, about half of which is irrigated by pumpulg systems. Industrial production is based largely on the processing of agriculture-based raw materials. Heavy industry accounted for about 41 percent of the total level of industrial production in 1995, light industry (including cotton) 39 percent, and agro/food processing almost 13 percent, with the fuel-energy industry representing the remainder. The machinery sector includes many products that are linked to agriculture as well as aircraft's and cars production (Joint-venture "UzDaewoo" producing 200.000 cars per year).

Type of Government of Uzbekistan is Republic. The President of Uzbekistan is Mr. Islam Karnnov (since December 1991). There are different political parties. The parliament of Uzbekistan is Olly Majlls (250 Member of Parliament). The Cabinet of Ministers is main executive power. Prime-Minister of Uzbekistan - Mr. Utkir Sultanov.

The main principles of development during the transition period are the following:

1. Priority of the economy over politics, which means taking of economical strategy

out of influence of any political ideology,

2. Government is main reformator and initiator of the economic reforms,

3. Priority of the law in all fields of public life,

4. Strong social policy directed for protection of population,

5. Gradually transition to market economy.

According to the Law on Education (1992) there are several main principles in the field of education.

1. Humanistic, democratic character of education and training,

2. Continuity of educational system,

3. Scientific, secular character of state system of education,

4. Compulsory, free basic education (9 years),

5. Public education within limits of state educational standard.,

6. Unity of differential approach to choose of educational programmes.

7. Independence of educational institutions from influence of political parties social and political movements,

8. Respectfulness of personality of teacher and students.

The degree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 10 March, 1997 with the purposes of development of the National program on Training of Personnel in view of the requirements of democratic and market reforms, activity covering all spheres of the State, Society and the person forms a Commission and Working groups.

The local and foreign experts, representatives of wide scientific and pedagogical society are involved to the work of the Commission and working groups.

While developing the National program on training of personnel, the following are stipulated:

• Radical reforming of all education system, realization of structural transformations with reorientation of existing and creation of new educational institutions, first of all Technical colleges, business schools and special educational Institutions for preparation of the experts, capable to work in new conditions and on modem technologies;
  
• Rise of quality of teaching process up to a level of international educational standards, introduction of essentially new techniques of training, modem pedagogical and information technologies;
  
• Perfection of structure of educational institutions and expansion the network of special educational establishments, especially for schoolboys of the ninth classes, with teaching of bases of Enterprise activity, economic and legal knowledge;
  
• Training and education of youth on the basis of ideology of National revival and recognizing of human values, in spirit of love to a native land and ideals of independence';
  
• Harmonious and careful work with youth, revealing gifted children, creation to them conditions for reception of Vocational training in best foreign Educational Centres;
  
• Reproduction and development of personnel potential of Uzbekistan, adequate to its economic and spiritual requirements, capable to make a competition to highly skilled foreign experts;
  
• Strengthening material base of educational establishments by the new educational literature, modem equipment and computers'.
  
• Creation of the socio economic preconditions for upgrading the level teachers, strengthening the motivation of teachers.

At the present time the work on development of National Programme approaches to end. With the purposes of holding external evaluation of the program in Uzbekistan have been invited foreign experts on a line of European Fund of Education, UNDP. TACIS and other International Organizations.

During the preparation of National Programme we have got large support given by many international organizations and especially by UNESCO. Participation of the specialized agencies during the realization of National Programme of Training of Personnel and the reform of education system is planned.

In the report specifications characterized education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan, its problems and priorities of development are brought.

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

At the moment in the Republic there are 8464 preschool educational establishments which are accommodate 955,2 thousand children, and for the last 4 years have been constructed new kindergardens which could accommodate more than 135 thousand children.

The development of preschool education comes true proceeding from the Concept oriented to the development of child personality and raising the responsibility of family for education and training of the children.

Legal base of preschool education is updated. In a new Rule about preschool establishments the special accent given to emotional-psychological well-being of child on his social protection and democratization of management.

New types of preschool establishments are developing. Meantime in the country there are more than 40 complexes " kindergarden-school " and function about 1,5 thousand home based kindergardens accomodating 14 thousand children, in preschool establishments created more than 800 groups on teaching of music, representational and musical art, elements of computer literacy, foreign languages, and a number of of "Centres of early development of the children" are organized.

Potential of educational establishments for the children with various disabilities is developed. At the moment in 1400 groups at special kindergardens brought up 16 thousand such children.

Significant changes have undergone the contents of preschool education, where the Program of training and education of the children enriched by introduction of basic literacy courses, teaching of foreign languages, and it foresees the development of ecological thinking of the children, and teaching them elementary of economic and computer knowledge. In the Program included materials reflecting regional peculiarities and national traditions of the Uzbek people, basis peoples pedagogy.

In system of preschool education 90,3 thousands teachers are working, majority from which have higher (20 %) or vocational (77 %) education. The state is intending to rise their status, to provide social support. One of first Decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, accepted after the gaining of independence, were Decrees about free of charge privatization of departmental apartments by the teachers, allocation of the ground areas under construction of houses for teachers; 50% discount for municipal services in cities and complete clearing of it in rural areas.

Annually pedagogical potential of preschool educational establishments replenish on 3 thousand specialists.

However radical changes, occurring in republic with the gaining of Independence, new purposes and directions of development of state and the society, course of their realization, require dramatic changes of preschool education, solving of existing problems of its development. These are the aims of the National Programme of Training of Personnel where some of the above mentioned points are realized such as introduction of monitoring and estimation of the quality children's development, reconsideration of an assessment of works of the teachers and staff members of preschool educational establishments as a whole.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

With gaining of independence in public education of the Republic of Uzbekistan there significant changes which are resulted the development and realization of the Concept general education and secondary education programmes, introduction of the State Educational standard, realization of the target programs -"Soglom avlod uchun" ( For the healthy generation), "Manaviyat va Marifat" (Culture and Spirituality), "Economic Education", "Agricultural School", "Rehabilitation of the children with Disabilities" etc. Development of a network of new type schools and educational institutions.

At the moment in Republic function 9433 Secondary schools among thein 203 elementary schools, 1850 secondary schools, 1919 high schools, 75 evening schools, 107 centres of adult education and 85 special schools for disabled children.

At the last few years there is a tendency to increase the common core of the pupils, so if in 1994-95 there were 4926430 pupils than in 1996-97 the number raised to 5212429.

Quantity of educational institutions of a new type is increased. So, if in 1995/1996 educational year there were 178 lyceums and 104 gymnasiums the number increased to 229 and 135 accord'mgly in 1996/1997. Besides this at Universities function 46 lyceums and 8 gymnasiums.

With transformation of evening schools in centres of adult education their number increased up to 107 via 37.

At the moment in comprehensive schools of the country 420,9 thousand teachers are working. Among them 72 % has higher education, 22% vocational education, 5 % studying at the Universities And only 2 % have secondary education.

Realization of the basic educational plan is conducted, a number of new educational subjects, courses are created to directed on increase of the level pupils knowledge in the field of the history of Uzbekistan, native language, spiritual - moral traditions and culture of the people, ecology, economy, computer science and others

A number of the original textbooks are published. Schools supplied by about 60 % of textbooks as a whole, and on selected subjects (nature, plotting, biology, geography, native language and literature, chemistry) percentage comes nearer to 1 00.. General circulation is about 149200.0 thousand copies on 1726 titles.

From 1992 to 1997, 174 name of the textbooks with circulation of 53012.9 copies is published. Among them. 138-original, 19-translated, 8-paralel and 9 are recommended for using; and 32 titles of educational programs are created.

System of selection and training of gifted youth is adjusted. In 1994 centre "Istedod" is established to work with the gifted children, and in the Regions of the Republic were organized branches of the centre.

Annually, since 1993, the most gifted youth among the winners of Republican subject olympiads are enlisted to higher educational institutions without passing the tests. In period from 1994 till 1997 243 puples-winners of olympiads have received special certificates.

With assistance of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan was established close contacts with UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF as well as educators from the Republic of Korea, USA, France, Germany and other countries.

On the basis of intergovernmental and departmental agreements were signed agreements with the Ministries of Education of CIS, Turkey and Republic of Korea. Alongside with it were signed and being realized contracts and agreements with non-governmental and public organizations.. Peace Corp (USA), ACCELS (USA), British Council, Merci Project (Great Britain)), Gete Institute (Germany), NAFE (USA), Safe the children fund (Great Britain).

With assistance of Ministry of Education of Turkey and the firm "Silm" 22 liceums are created and function in which 4.8 thousand pupils are educating. With assistance of American Council on cooperation in Education (ANCALS) for the last 4 years 222 pupils of Uzbekistan have got education in USA.

For the last 2 years 25 Uzbekistan schools have got the certificates of UNESCO Associated Schools Project (ASP).

TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

The main part of preparation of the personnel in Uzbekistan's education system is the network of Technical and Vocational educational institutions.

Meantime in republic functions 442 Secondary Specialized Educational Institutions, among them 209 trade (professional) schools, 180-trade liceums, 53 business schools.

The total number of people trained in Technical and Vocational schools is 221 thound. The schools offer more than 260 specialities. Annually such schools receipt about 120-130 thousand people.

HIGHER EDUCATION

At the moment in the system of higher education of Uzbekistan there are 60 Higher Educational Institutions which educate 165,6 thousand students, among them 108,7 thousand full time students.

The Higher Educational Institutions prepare the experts on the whole spectrum of specialities (272 titles).

The preparation of the experts is conducted in 16 Universities, 7 Medical. 6 Industrial 4 Agricultural, 5 Economical, 2 Transport and 1 Law Institutes. Teaching process is conducted in 6 languages: Uzbek, Russian, Karakalpak, Tadjlk, Kazakh and Turkmen.

The number of teachers of the Higher Institutions in the beginning of 1997 reached 24,0 thousand specialists, among them 49 % have scientific degrees (Ph.D. and Doctor of Science). In the system of Higher Education work about 1,3 thousand Doctors of Sciences and professors..

In 1996-1997 education year 28733 people are accepted to study in Higher Institutions.

DEVELOPMENT ADULT EDUCATION

Adult Education in Uzbekistan occupies special place in the Education System . At

the present time there are four direction to improve educational level for Adults .

1. It is adopted by government of Uzbekistan the long-term programme of transition from Cyrillic to Latin script. At the present time in the primary schools of Uzbekistan students are taught the Latin alphabet. In order to resolve this problem it is organized courses on retraining adults over the country.

2. With transition to open market relations it is ecountered to launch new disciplines in the education. They are citizenship and democratic subjects. In order to enter the international communication it is necessry to teach such disciplines for adults.

3. Study deeply the management skills. Before the independence of Uzbekistan all directions and management came from Moscow. The Socialistic regime did not have the possibilities for Uzbekistan to make own steps. In this regards there is the the process of training the high level specialists in the field of management.

According to the statistics more than 99% of the population of Uzbekistan is literate. In Uzbekistan it is existed another forms of adult education various from Asian countries: Evening schools, and Centers for Adults. The age in these schools between 14-18.

The evening secondary schools (5-12 grades) have been existing for several years. Students who could not continue their education in the full-time secondary schools because of different causes. This trend is existing by the change of compulsory education for 9 grade system. This is taking place because Youth prefer to work after the finishing 9 grade, but continue to study during the free time.

Adult Education particularly in the transitional period plays important social role and provides possibilities to improve the potential of manpower.

The networks of Centers of Adult Education (CAE) on the base of evening schools are being established in order to gratify the young people's desires. Their distinctive feature is vide theoretical as well as practical knowledge. In the such centers the students can obtain different professions.

Besides evening schools, there are the courses with the full-time training, the training by correspondence for working youth and training-consultative centers. The special preferences on adult education are given for disabled people.

The need for Adult Education (18 age and above) is being reduced in secondary school, but the need for education after 9th grade is increasing among people who would like to continue their education in the full-time training schools.

During the next decade the acquire simultaneously both secondary education and profession is becoming more significant trends.

For these purposes, the several decrees were adopted by the Government on development of various types of education centers.

The Disruption of the economy during the transition and the ensuring financial difficulties have created some new problems that require urgent attention. In the course of transition to the new economic relations and with changing requirements of labour market. According to the change of the economic structure caused change in the education as well.

At the present time it is going full reforming educational system of Uzbekistan.

In order to remove the lacks in education system of Uzbekistan it is carried out the National Programme of Education in Uzbekistan. Aim and tasks of the national Programme are to be implemented step by step.

The main point of shifting to the new National Programme is to create possibilities for an applicant, who has completed the period of basic general education, to continue education according to the applicant's wishes in secondary specialized educational institutions of both types.

It is expedient to name the first planned type of educational establishments secondary specialized educational institutions (academical lycees), for, if during 9 years at schools, students were getting basic education, then in secondary specialized educational institutions they will have an opportunity to improve their knowledge aimed at mastering the sciences necessary to enter a concrete higher education institution.

The second type of 3 year educational establishments-secondary specialized professional educational institutions, because the students in them will be taught the professions they will have chosen.

As I mentioned above that the problem for youth it is to get both education and profession. According to the new National Programme those gaps in the system of education will be removed.

These educational institutions will differ radically from the formed Vocational Institutions. They shall be well -equipped and have well-organized educational processes, their personnel being sufficiently skilled. The students in them shall master 2-3 contemporary professions.

The youth will have an opportunity to choose any 3-year special educational institution of the two types. Thus, conditions for improving the skills of young people in order to give them a definite profession are being created. Getting 12 year general and secondary specialized education is guaranteed by the state. In addition to giving the youth knowledge and a profession, it also provides social protection for them in the continues of the market economy.

Compulsory specialized secondary, vocational training with 3-year period of study, on the grounds of general secondary education as an independent stage within the system of continuous education. the form of specialized secondary education, professional training-Academic lycees or Vocational college depends on the choice of young people.

The academic lyceum gives a secondary specialized education in accordance with the state educational standard, ensures intensive intellectual development, profound differentiated, professionally competent education, taking into account interests and opportunities of students.

In Academic lycees the students have an opportunity to raise their level of knowledge in the selected subject (the humanities, technical, agrarian) to form professional skills for profound study of sciences to either education in higher educational establishments or to use them in a profession.

Professional college offers a secondary specialized. vocational training in accordance with the public educational standards.. provides profound development of' professional inclinations, skills of students and acquiring one or several additional specialists within a selected trade.

Professional colleges are an educational establishment of a new type as they are being well-equipped, with a good selection of teaching personnel and rational organization of educational process. Professional colleges give a student an opportunity to acquire far more modern professions and to obtain profound theoretical knowledge on educational disciplines.

The study in Academic lycees and professional colleges provides deep and broad knowledge and helps students acquire specific professions. the graduates of these educational establishments receive diplomas of a state standard which grant the right to continue education in subsequent stages and to begin professional activity.

On this subject there special article in the law on education of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is following:

Everybody has the right to choose voluntarily the direction of their education by an academic lycee or professional college to obtain secondary specialized or vocational education.

Academic lycees and Professional colleges provide specialized secondary and vocational training, providing the right and ability to work in these professions or to continue on to further education.

The Academic Lycee is a 3-year special Educational institution offering intensive intellectual development, in depth differentiational and professionally oriented education of students.

Professional College is a 3 year vocational Educational Institution offering in-depth development of professional choices, abilities and skills of its students, preparing their for one or more specialization of a chosen profession.

Contact Info:

Alisher Akhmedov
National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO
Republic of Uzbekistan