Uzbekistan's Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Kongratbay Sharipov, stated at a press conference on April 15 that 26 higher education institutions in the country are operating on subsidies, and to preserve them, the issue of contract fees needs to be reconsidered. The minister explained that under the previous system, contract amounts increased alongside rises in salaries and pensions, but the president has allegedly not permitted any hike in contract fees for four years, purportedly to create opportunities for students to study more and develop themselves.

According to Sharipov, some students pay an annual contract fee of 6 million soums, while the yearly cost per student is 14 million soums. The remaining 8 million soums are covered by students enrolled in "super-contract" programs. The minister emphasized that this situation should not be hidden and added that demand for super-contracts is decreasing annually due to intensified competition among universities, with many youths preferring private institutions, which he claimed offer quality education.

Regarding rumors circulating online about a possible 20% increase in contract fees this year, Sharipov responded that no such decision has been made yet. He noted that the expenses and revenues of each university are being publicized on social media, but any decision on raising fees will be made after considering public opinion. The minister further stated that if universities need to be preserved, this issue must be thought over carefully.

During the press conference, Sharipov also commented on the matter of student uniforms, mentioning that each higher education institution has developed its own internal dress code regulations, and administration has the right to enforce them. He observed that creating in-house clothing brands is becoming popular among universities, and order should be maintained in dress matters.

Source: www.gazeta.uz