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Uzbekistan and UNESCO have established a strong partnership, especially in the education sector. In the past few years, their relationship has reached unprecedented levels in all spheres of UNESCO's mandate.

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has held meetings with UNESCO's Director General, Audrey Azoulay, in 2018, 2019, and 2022 to discuss the two entities' bilateral relationship, with education being among the top areas of interest. Since 2018, 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ significantly increased its technical support in education by launching new projects that have increased the education portfolio to 13 million USD, including teacher training, youth support, and vocational education development.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has launched large-scale socio-economic reforms, including several initiatives in the education sector, such as establishing the Ministry of Preschool Education (now, Agency for Preschool Education, upgrading the school curriculum based on advanced experience from developed countries, and introducing a free meal system in schools.

These bold steps, with the support of the international community, including UNESCO, have provided tangible results within a short period of time, including increased access to preschool education from 27% to 70%, higher education from 8% to 38%, and an increase in the number of schools and universities to 10,000 and 186, respectively.

Uzbekistan has played a pivotal role in supporting UNESCO's initiatives, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the country supported the Translate a Story campaign. Furthermore, Uzbekistan has contributed a lot to UNESCO's efforts to promote preschool education, and UNESCO appreciates Uzbekistan's leadership in arranging the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (WCECCE) in 2022 in Tashkent on the highest level. This conference resulted in the Tashkent Declaration, a roadmap towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The success stories in the Uzbekistan-UNESCO cooperation in education have deep roots and a strong background in the large-scale socio-economic reforms launched under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Some of the major reforms are:

1. New Curriculum: The government has introduced a new curriculum to improve the quality of education. The curriculum includes a focus on critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and practical skills to prepare students for the job market.
2. Digitalization: The government has launched an ambitious program to digitize the education system, including the development of online platforms for learning and assessments.
3. Teacher Training: The government has increased investment in teacher training, including retraining existing teachers and recruiting new ones. The aim is to improve the quality of teaching and ensure that teachers are equipped to deliver the new curriculum.
4. Infrastructure Development: The government has invested in the development of school infrastructure, including the construction of new schools and the renovation of existing ones.
5. International Partnerships: The government has developed partnerships with leading international universities to promote exchange programs and joint research initiatives. This has helped to improve the quality of education in Uzbekistan and increase opportunities for students to study abroad.
6. Focus on Early Childhood Education: The government has placed a greater emphasis on early childhood education, recognizing the importance of early learning in a child's development.
7. Access to Education: The government has increased access to education, particularly for girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This has included the provision of scholarships, school transportation, and other support to ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education.

Overall, these reforms are aimed at modernizing the education system in Uzbekistan and ensuring that students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

In his address to the WCECCE participants, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, "We have defined the creation of decent living conditions for the people of our country as a priority of the New Uzbekistan’s policy. In this regard, we attach great importance, above all, to the care and practical support of young people and children, raising them physically healthy and spiritually mature generation".

UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan plays a crucial role in strengthening Uzbekistan's education system by conducting evidence-based research and policy reviews. The office provides expertise and capacity-building activities to develop evidence-based education interventions and policies, including planning education strategies, identifying bottlenecks and challenges, and reviewing national professional qualifications standards in technical and vocational education.

Uzbekistan is committed to expanding its efforts aimed at promoting education to reach SDG 4 by 2030. UNESCO stands ready to support the Government of Uzbekistan in its educational reforms to ensure access to quality education for all.