Uzbekistan plans to fully transition school textbooks to the updated Uzbek alphabet in 2027−2031. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education Azizbek Turdiyev during the Senate session on September 19, while responding to senators' questions.
Senator Dilbar Suvonova inquired whether deadlines had been set for revising textbooks, teaching aids, programs, and literature in connection with the alphabet change, and whether additional funds were envisaged. The deputy minister stated that the Cabinet of Ministers must approve a program of measures to implement the law. Executive bodies and the Academy of Sciences have submitted their proposals, including the Ministry of Preschool and School Education — on updating textbooks and training teachers and students.
According to him, textbooks are already being updated with established periodicity: for 1st grades — annually, for 2−4th grades — once every three years, for 5−11th grades — once every five years. "Starting from 2027, after the law enters into force, we will print textbooks for the first grade using the new alphabet in any case," said the deputy minister. He added that in 2027−2031 all school textbooks will be updated within the usual cycle of their reprinting. "From 2027 to 2031, all our textbooks will be fully updated. […] From this point of view, no additional funds are required," said the ministry representative.
The ministry is also preparing measures to adapt teachers and students. According to the deputy minister, before the start of the new academic year, on August 24−28, training seminars are planned in the preschool and school education system. "Teachers and students will be informed about these changes and will be able to adapt," he said.
At the session, the question of which alphabet exams would be conducted in after the reform was separately discussed. "After the law enters into force, exams will be conducted in the alphabet established by law. There will be no questions about this. We are ready for this," said the deputy minister. He emphasized that in primary school, education in the updated alphabet will begin with new textbooks, while for senior grades, manuals are envisaged to be changed gradually.
Earlier, the Senate approved amendments to the Uzbek alphabet based on Latin script. The new version will consist of 28 letters and one apostrophe instead of the current 26 letters and three letter combinations. It is proposed to use "Ş", "Ç", "Ö" and "Ğ" instead of "Sh", "Ch", "Oʻ" and "Gʻ", and to remove "Ng" from the alphabet as a separate unit.
Source: www.gazeta.uz