Uzbekistan is preparing to reintroduce a 12-year education system, deputy minister of preschool and school education Sardor Radjabov has confirmed.
He explained that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had reviewed a presentation on education reform, which outlined plans to expand preschool preparatory courses. This move is expected to underpin the shift to a 12-year schooling model aimed at raising educational standards.
Alignment with International Standards
Radjabov stressed that many Uzbek graduates currently face obstacles when applying to foreign universities.
«Today, when entering overseas universities, our graduates are forced to take year-long foundation courses, which results in the loss of a year. If we introduce a 12-year system in law, our graduates in a number of countries will no longer need to take a foundation year and will be able to enter undergraduate programmes directly,» he said.
A presidential decree accompanying note also highlighted that Uzbekistan’s current 11-year model does not match international practice. The system lacks clear mechanisms for structured learning and proper preparation for higher education. As a result, around 15,000 graduates annually must take additional foundation courses abroad.
Analysis further showed that in 85% of the 20 top-performing countries in the PISA 2022 international student assessment, the duration of school education is 12 years. On this basis, Uzbekistan plans to adopt the same model.
Improving Teacher Training
The presentation also addressed the development of preschool education, the need for enhanced teacher training and increasing the proportion of educators with higher qualifications. To meet these targets, the government will introduce targeted enrolment for teaching staff at the National Pedagogical University and regional higher education institutions.
Uzbekistan previously operated an 11-year school system until 2009, when it introduced a 12-year model under a 9+3 formula, with the final three years taking place in colleges and lyceums. However, in 2018 the government scrapped the scheme and returned to 11 years of schooling, citing its ineffectiveness.
