On April 15, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Justice registered an internal document (registration number 3816) in the state registry, establishing procedures for maintaining a national ranking of secondary specialized and vocational education institutions and providing incentives for them. This move is aimed at enhancing the quality of professional education and fostering competition in the country, with the ranking system designed to assess the effectiveness of educational institutions and the level of student training.
The national ranking is managed by the Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and is formed from the following sources: an annual nationwide survey conducted among students, teachers, and employers by May 30. While this process is intended to reflect the actual state of educational institutions, questions remain about the survey methodology and data accuracy, which could undermine the credibility of the outcomes.
Annually, by October 10, the results of the national ranking for the previous year are announced, with the top 50 technical schools receiving financial incentives equivalent to 3000 times the base calculation amount. The incentive funds can be allocated for purposes such as improving the material and technical base of institutions, enhancing teacher qualifications, and creating additional opportunities for students. However, the effectiveness of these incentives in genuinely improving education quality is questionable, as the distribution of funds and control mechanisms lack transparency.
Previously, it was reported that a similar financial incentive system based on national ranking results would be implemented for higher education institutions starting January 1, 2027. This new system, now extended to vocational education, indicates ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan's education sector. Nevertheless, debates persist about the fairness of the ranking system and its long-term results, given that such initiatives often come with bureaucratic challenges and implementation issues.
Source: www.gazeta.uz