The Republic of Uzbekistan conducts the governmental policy in the field of education taking into account universal human values, historical experience and perspective of the development of society. Education has the aim to develop intellectual and scientific potential of Uzbekistan, to establish all round educated free citizen, that realizing personal responsibility before society, family and country.

In its history of Turkestan (previous name of Central Asian region) the Educational level of people was one of the high in the world during 18-19 century. The Russian occupation and Soviet regime were trying to hide those indication on education in Uzbekistan. Those people who were educated under soviet influence proved all previous years that education in Central Asia was brought by Russians and their regime and that is why the occupation gave a lot of opportunities to improve the conditions of people and their knowledge. If we look at the facts those arguments is not true. They said that the illiteracy in this region was 98% before the Great Revolution. But if our ancestors were illiterate how can we evaluate that we had famous in the world scientists, writes researchers, poets like, Beruni Forobi, Avicena, Al Khorezml, Al Fergani, Al Bukhorl, At Tennizi, Ulugbek, Navol, Bobur, Furkat, Avloni, Chulpon and etc. whose ancestors. Let's draw attention to the following. In 1882 academician A.F.Middendorf wrote in his "Essays about Fergana valley" that local people living in Fergana (Uzbekistan) province almost all knew to write and read.

In 1909, Mishenko, General-Gubemator of Russia, prepared the report of the situation in this region for the King of Russian "Your Excellency as you know that among Turkestan population especially in the Sirdarya, Fergana, Samarkand regions the literacy level is very higher than European part of Russia. Secondary and higher educational establishments covered almost all these regions". By 1910 there were 10003 schools and 10 85 Madrases. Following these facts why Soviet and Russian regime considered that only 2% of population was literate? Because they considered those people who can speak and write in Russian language.

But the situation was changed after independence e in 1991. The students of Uzbekistan started to study the true history of their country which 'does not to repeat the mistakes and contrary to repair them Education is returning to its roots, laying foundations of the future of Uzbekistan on the base of history, national traditions, language and culture of Uzbek people, helping the teachers to revive pedagogic, creating necessary conditions for stepping up of the rate of education in Uzbekistan:

• improvement of the content of education taking into account the historical and cultural traditions, entrance of country to the market economy;
  
• work out modern system of education, based on universal human values, achievements of international and local pedagogics;
  
• increase of the quality of education and preparation of specialists and achievement of education up to international level;
  
• modernization the structure of management of education, training process in the system of adult schools and places, strengthening the material technical base of schools, and bringing up to full modem technical facilities, manual books as well. The special attention is paid for the following..
  
• to reveal personal abilities of students and improvement it;
  
• to introduce the system of test in all level of secondary and vocational education;
  
• to raise the qualification of retraining of engineers and pedagogical staffs.

The law on education of the Republic of Uzbekistan provides the protection of constitutional rights for citizens on education., determines the principles of mutual relations, competence and responsibility of citizens and governmental structures in the field of education, legal guarantee of free development of education in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Republic of Uzbekistan guaranteed the equal right to receive education is given to all, irrespective of sex, language, age, race, politics, region, social origin, occupation class social status place of residence or length of residence in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

If we look at the present situation of Education in Uzbekistan it is necessary to emphasize that there haven't completely got rid of the ideological red-tape that used to be in the educational field during Soviet times. All the practical transformations and measures, being perfunctory mostly, have not solved the problem of providing close intercommunication between the content of education, from one side and educational process and their periods which is the system of continuous education. In many areas one can clearly see that our educational system cannot meet the requirements of modem developed democratic states. Nowadays one can feel deeply that the training of specialists, educational and conditioning systems are not connected with the social reforms that are being conducted and do not meet the requirements of the transformations.

At the sunset of the Soviet period, Uzbekistan shifted to the 11-year educational system.

The 11-year educational system can be structurally subdivided into 3 periods: primary education-4 years, incomplete secondary education-9 years, and 2 year complete secondary education. However, no one has proved the expediency of learning separate subjects in primary school and in the later educational periods from a scientific point of view. It is not yet clear many people why we stretched the 1 0 year process of general education into 11 year one. There was one problem. It is the 9th-grade graduates.

According to the data, about 250.000 of them, that's 55%, continue studying in the 1Oth forms, and about 1 00.000 can enter technical and special secondary schools. The other ones, 1 00.000 of young people, according to the poll, don't have any chance to enter. -0-25 thousand from graduates, that 1 0%, can enter Universities of higher education.And the other 90% cannot get either a concrete profession or any skills, which they M'11 need in their future. And, finally, the youth between the ages of 16-1 8 cannot find their place in life corresponding to their abilities, desires, aspirations. Owing the gap between the general education and vocational programmes in the present educational system, general secondary schools, graduates lack necessary professional orientation and labour activity skills. Youth have serious difficulties in defining their way of life according to their abilities, wishes, creativity and labour inclinations. the educational process in administrated to a pupil's average level of knowledge. Thus individual institution programmes' mechanisms are feedly used especially in case with gifted youth. The educational programmes are not still completely released from the ideological routine.

One level higher education system did not take into consideration the needs of labour market to the full extent, structural reforms in industry and positive international experience. Educational establishments were not independent in organizing the educational upbringing process. They were very poor adapted to the altering conditions of the professional labour market.

At the present time there are 280.000 of the youth study at them. Under 22 Ministries 268 special secondary schools, technical schools are working where about 170.000 of youth study. And it is necessary to examine the activity of these schools, first of all their efficiency from the point of view of a market economy and life demands. Life itself demands the creation of modernity.

The most important prerequisites of radical reforms of the staff training system are:

• the dynamic movement of Uzbekistan towards the construction of a democratic legal state and open civil society;
  
• the implementation of radical changes in the national economy, the successive transformation of the economy of Uzbekistan from mainly raw material stock to the output of competitive products, the enlargement of the export potential of the country;
  
• the affirmation of the priority of the interests of a personality and education in the governmental social policy;
  
• the growth of the national consciousness, pestering of patriots, the feeling of 'de for the Motherland, respect for the wealthy national cultural-historical traditions and intellectual legacy of the people;
  
• the integration of Uzbekistan into the world commonwealth, the consolidation of the position and the authority of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the world.

In order to remove the lacks in education system of Uzbekistan it is carried out the National Programme of Education in Uzbekistan. In March of 1997, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan decreed the creation of a special government committee with the purpose of reforming the educational system, to introduce radical changes in the process of specialists' preparation. The corresponding Ministers and Departments, scientists and specialists have carried out a significant work, As a result, the National Program for the preparation of specialists and new law on education were formed. Education in Uzbekistan is reforming according to the principle of stage by stage.

The aim of the present programme is the fundamental reforming of education system, the complete reversal of its ideological routine, elaboration of the national educational system for training of highly qualified personnel up to the level of advanced democratic states and meeting the requirements of high spirit and morals.

The implementation of the aim demands the solution of the following tasks:

• the reform of the education system in accordance with the Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Education", ensuring of its step-by-step development as the invisible educational-scientific-industrial complex on the basis of the state-owned and private educational establishments and the formation of a competitive environment in the field of education and personnel training;
  
• bringing the education and personnel training into line with ongoing social reforms, building up of developed democratic legal state;
  
• providing the personnel training educational establishments the skilled instructors, raising the prestige and social status of pedagogical activity;
  
• reorganizing the structure and the content of personnel training, proceeding from perspectives of the social and economic development of the country, needs of the society, contemporary achievements of science, culture, technique and technology;
  
• the creation of a regulatory material-technical and information basis, providing the necessary level and quality of education, guarantees of functioning and steady development, priority of the personnel training system in new socioeconomic conditions;
  
• providing effective integration with education, science and industry, elaboration of mechanisms specifying the needs of the state owed and also the needs of private sector, enterprises and organizations for the quantity and quality of personnel training;
  
• the elaboration and putting into the practice the real mechanisms of budgetary funds attraction, including foreign investments. into the continuous education system of personnel training;
  
• aim and tasks of the national Programme are to be implemented step by step

The first stage (1997-2001)-the creation of legal, personnel, scientific methodical, financed and technical-material conditions for its reforms and development on the basis the up-kept positive potential of the existing system of personnel training.

The tasks of this period are to.

• train and implore the qualification of pedagogical and scientific pedagogical personnel to the level meeting contemporary requirements;
  
• create and inculcate governmental educational standard, specifying the necessary requirements of the skills quality of students; 3
  
• elaborate and inculcate the new generation of educational methodical complexes, didactic and information maintenance of educational process;
  
• prepare the necessary logistics, educational-methodical and personnel basis for secondary special and vocational training; improve mechanisms of used budgetary funds attraction in to education and personnel training, create a competitive environment in educational services, guarantee side by side with the state owned educational establishments, setting up of private educational establishments; enlarge and intensify international contacts, elaborate and implement the real collaboration of international donor organizations and funds in personnel training and also for the attraction of foreign investments into educational system of Uzbekistan.

The beginning of the National programme implementation: training of the teaching personal to meet the new requirements, the creation of standards in education and working out the new education programmes, the reorganization of general educational schools, the population of foundation for the system of this year's education-vocational schools, colleges and lycees, providing measures in order to lay the foundation of continuing education and upgrading system. this stage is to solve the problem of social protection that guarantees the second stage encloses 2001-2005 years. The second stage is large-scaled implementation of the national programme, its adjustment and correction with the consideration of accumulated experience of execution, the development of the market of labour and real socioeconomic conditions.

The complete transition to the compulsory general secondary and secondary-special, vocational training is accomplished and also to the differential study proceeding from the capacities and possibilities of students.

making up the staff of educational establishments is provided with specially trained qualified pedagogical staff and the competitive environment of the activity is formed.

The consolidation of the material-technical and informational basis of educational establishments is proceeded, educational upbringing process provides with highly-qualified educational literature and for most pedagogical technologies.

Informatization of the system of continuous education is accomplished.

Mechanisms of formation of the market of educational service operate in the full power.

The third stage is supposed to be implemented from 2005 and in the subsequent years. At this stage, it is imperative to improve and further develop personnel training systems on the basis of analysis and generation of the accumulated experience and proceeding from the ever-changing social and economic conditions.

Without haste and deviation, progress forms the basic objective it is implemented within the National Programme stage by stage. Only in this case. it will serve to raise the standard of culture, to help our young people find their suitable place in society.

It is supposed to provide legal criteria, organizational, spiritual and pedagogical condition for intelligent choices and mastering the professional 91 and educational programme.

As it s well known, the continuous education system forms the general link of the public education. In providing state educational standards and appropriate curriculums, attention is paid to correspondence with the world standards and be created on the basis of high spirituality standards of education in Uzbekistan. In providing the continuous education with the state educational standards and appropriate curriculums, there is going transition to the following system of education in Uzbekistan

1. Pre-school education includes children from 3 to 6-7 years of age. it is held in the family, kindergarten and in other educational institutions.

2. Primary education includes from 1-4 grades and begins from 6-7 Years of age.

3. General secondary education. Pupils are educated from forms 5 upto 9.

Attention is paid to the fact that the comprehensive school Is compulsory for everybody. We must teach the basis of general knowledge and create the formation and broadening of children's world outlook.

4 Trade and vocational education. Academic lycees, colleges and vocational secondary schools (education lasts at least 3 years).

5. Higher education. As a rule, it begins from 18-19 and lasts at least 4 years. Higher education is divided into - stages. Baccalaureate and Magistrate.

At the time, there is one more stage, completing the official indissoluble educational system. This stage is divided into postgraduate and Doctorate.

Continuos education is the main basis system in personnel training, the priority the social-economic development of Uzbekistan.

Continuous education satisfies the economic, social, scientific- technical and cultural requirements of personality, society and state.

Continuous education creates the necessary conditions of forming creative, socially active, spiritually rich personality and overcoming the training of skilled and competitive staff.

Principles of functioning of continuous education:

® priority of education- the first and foremost character of its development, prestige of knowledge, education and high intellect

® democratization of education-enlargement of independence of educational establishments in the choice of methods of study and upbringing and transition to the state-public system of management of education

® humanization of education-the exposure of human abilities and satisfaction of people's various educational requirements securing of priority of national and common to all mankind's values and harnomization of relations of personality, society and environment, humanitarization of education-forming an esthetically rich world outlook in a pupil's mind, high spirit, culture and creative mentality

® national orientation of education included in its organic unity with national history, national traditions and customs, saving and enrichment of the culture of the people of Uzbekistan and the admission of the formation of respect of the history and culture of other peoples as the most important instrument in national development

® indissobility of study and upbringing and the orientation of that process on the formation of multilateral skilled personality

® exposure of gifted youth and the creation of conditions of gradual receipt of fundamental and special knowledge in the highest level of education

The functioning of the continuous education system is provided by the public educational standard, the succession of different levels educational programme, as we mentioned above the are following:

1. pre-school education,' general secondary education

3. specialized technical education, vocational training

4. higher education

5. professional improvement and retraining of personnel

6. extra curricular education

The specific feature of the specialists training National Model is the introduction of a 9-grade general secondary education and a 3-grade of specialized secondary and vocational training as 2 independent stages aimed to ensure the succession of the transition from general education to vocational training programmes.

The general secondary education programmes include preschool, primary (1st and 2nd grades), general secondary education (1 st and 9th grades), secondary specialized education and vocational training.

The vocational training programmes include specialized secondary education vocational training, higher education (Bachelor and Master), postgraduate and extension courses and professional improvement.

For the creation and development of specialized secondary special education, vocational training it is necessary:

1. to work out and to inculcate the regulatory basis of the functioning of Academic lycees and professional colleges.,

2. to provide the training and retraining of qualified teaching staff, including courses abroad for the purpose of enlisting specialists from higher educational establishments, factories and plants and also specialists in science and culture;

3. to work out and inculcate the state standards of secondary specialized education and vocational training,

4. to work out the educational and professional programmes, complexes of methods for the secondary specialized vocational training establishments and vocational training;

5. to work out and implement special programmes for acquitting labor skills bv the students of Academic lycees.'

6. to make a list of specialties, professions and qualification requirements for the specialists trained in professional colleges,

7. to provide the development and rational placement of educational establishments within the system of secondary specialized and vocational training taking into account geographical and demographical conditions of the locations and local needs in specialists of the necessary profile, to increase the number of students living in their families'.

8. to strengthen the financial, technical based and informative data of the Academic lycees and professional colleges.

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 differentiation 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 them for one or more specialization of a chosen profession.

Contact Info:

Daniyar Obidov
Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies
Republic of Uzbekistan