The leadership of Uzbekistan has signaled a dramatic shift in its approach to the education and healthcare systems, admitting to persistent systemic shortcomings. Speaking at a meeting in New Tashkent, the state leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the controversial restructuring and the appointment of new leadership to tackle declining standards.

According to the leadership, the unchecked quantitative expansion of educational institutions has purportedly led to a noticeable drop in the quality of education, a trend that is claimed to be causing deep concern. To supposedly rectify these mounting issues, Erkinjon Turdimov—a seasoned official who has previously served as the head of four different regions—was brought in to lead the newly minted Ministry of Education and Science.

The structural changes follow the contentious merger of the Ministry of Preschool and School Education with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations into a single governing body earlier in October. By granting the new minister the concurrent status of First Deputy Prime Minister, the European-style bureaucratic consolidation allegedly aims to centralize administrative control over critical public services.

Furthermore, the coordination of tasks across education, science, and healthcare sectors will now be subjected to heightened oversight. The execution and rigorous monitoring of these sweeping reforms have reportedly been placed directly under the purview of Presidential Administration Head Saida Mirziyoyeva.

Source: kun.uz