Secondary school in Uzbekistan

Secondary school in Uzbekistan
At Secondary School, students transition from child to adolescent and we support individual growth – both academic and personal. Student experience a breadth of learning and discover the subjects they are passionate about and the ones they find more challenging, requiring more effort and persistence. We give encouragement, provide focus, track development and offer a supportive and happy environment for students to thrive.
We nurture students to develop as independent learners to get the most out of the curriculum. Students are encouraged to be self-motivated and responsible for their own learning through organizational skills, developing confidence through public speaking, perfecting exam techniques building resilience, developing empathy, teamwork and leadership skills. In addition, students benefit from global perspectives, through our Student Council, student expeditions, Global Campus platform and international competitions.
From Year 7-9 students are encouraged to think critically, articulate their ideas persuasively, take risks, learn from mistakes, develop problem-solving skills, undertake project work, challenge themselves and explore individual interests as independent learners. 
During Year 10 and 11, students are prepared for the rigours of (I)GCSE exams. Students continue to learn English, Mathematics and Science whilst also specialising in subject areas which reflect their interests, strengths and aspirations. Students typically study between 8-10 IGCSEs depending upon their learning preference, which culminate in the IGCSE examinations.The courses students will follow are designed to engage and stimulate and students will have to rise to the many challenges they will face. Teaching will cater for a variety of learning styles, so for students who like to work independently or in a group, or those who like to read about things or prefer a more ‘hands-on’ approach, whatever their strengths, there will be opportunities for all.
Since 1991, from the first year of Independence, youth policy in general, and development of education system in particular has been of high importance of the state policy of Uzbekistan.
Till 2018, secondary education system of Uzbekistan was divided into two stages. The first stage includes nine years of compulsory schooling with the same programs all over Uzbekistan. The second stage covered three years and included either academic secondary education (high schools, admission to which was based on the results of entrance exams) or specialized secondary education (vocational colleges). Reforms started with new President of Uzbekistan have touched education field too, and according to the Decree on measures for improving system of education, signed on January 25, 2018, Uzbekistan introduced mandatory 11-year general secondary education from 2018/2019 academic year. Vocational colleges started to accept graduates general educational schools on voluntary basis to receive professions. The education term is such colleges now from six months to 2 years.
Compulsory-type education provided by the State is free. There are 9,691 schools including 86 special schools for disabled children. In the year’s 2018 to 2019, the number of pupils in these schools reached over 5,82 million. This form of education allows the country to reach the 98,2 percent literacy rate. Together with state schools system, Uzbekistan is introducing and developing private schooling. Special Resolutions on Private education are offering big tax privileges and cheap loans to ones who establish educational establishments. From 2012, together with Russian, other foreign languages, predominantly English, are taught in all schools of Uzbekistan from first classes. The Uzbekistan government builds schools; purchases equipment, material, and textbooks; educates teachers; conducts research; creates curricula and methodologies of teaching; and establishes examination procedures.
General secondary education in Uzbekistan instructed in several languages: together with 8853 Uzbek schools, there are 366 Karakalpakh, 862 Russian, 370 Kazakh, 244 Tadjik, 43 Turkmen and 42 Kyrgyz schools in the country. Education in Uzbekistan is unisex, there is no special schools for boys or girls. Till this academic year, there were dress codes at schools and colleges but there were no strict uniforms that students should wear. From year 2018-2019 The government of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on a single modern school uniform for state general education institutions. Commenting this decision, the President stated that “School uniforms play a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of schools, support positive behavior, discipline and moral values. Secondly, the lack of uniforms may lead to neglect by pupils from wealthy families towards poorly dressed pupils. This is what we must eradicate.” Good success at school is important for schoolchildren, as annually of about 70 thousand university entrants, 20 % receive full (a 4 year) State scholarship.
Together with general secondary education, Mirziyoyev started big reforms in preschool education as only 33 percent of preschool children were covered in Uzbekistan by kindergartens, while in Japan – 97, in South Korea – 95 percent. The newly formed Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan was tasked to organize complete coverage of children with kindergartens.
There are approximately 9,700 schools including about 1,850 secondary schools, 1,919 high schools, 75 evening schools, 107 centers of adult education, and 85 special schools for disabled children. In the year's 1999 to 2000, the number of pupils in these schools reached over 5.7 million. Compulsory-type education provided by the State (Republic of Uzbekistan) is free. This form of education allows the country to reach the 98 percent literacy rate. The Uzbekistan government builds schools; purchases equipment, material, and textbooks; educates teachers; conducts research; creates curricula and methodologies of teaching; and establishes examination procedures. The school system includes both urban and rural schools, all of which fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Education.
Secondary education is divided into two stages. The first stage includes nine years of compulsory schooling with the same programs all over Uzbekistan. The second stage covers education and vocational training after nine years. It includes general secondary education and specialized secondary education. Young people receive general secondary education while staying in school for the tenth and eleventh grades. Upon successful completion, they get a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.

Formerly, Soviet-type schools had one curriculum for all schools across the union. Today, the curriculum is less rigid and defined. However, there are two new subjects: the Uzbek language and a basic ecology course included in every teaching plan. All students of the same grade study together and change classes together.

Teachers grade oral answers during lessons and test papers. Standardized tests and multiple-choice tests are rare. At the end of the quarter (semester), grades are averaged. Exams, written or oral, are given at the end of the year. At the completion of secondary school, a certificate or diploma is awarded. The first certificate is awarded for the completion of the compulsory ninth grade after which the individual can go to any type of school. The second certificate, Certificate of Complete Secondary Education (attestat zrelosti or certificate of maturity), is awarded after the eleventh grade. Those who graduate from technical colleges receive a diploma that is legally equal to the certificate and also qualifies them in technical fields.


Teachers in the secondary education schools must be graduates of the pedagogical institute (old Soviet-style) or graduates at the Master's degree level in the new system. Teachers are taught many background professional subjects; general courses in philosophy, language, literature, and education-related courses like psychology (general, developmental, and educational); the history of education; and general educational methodology. They also study methodology in their area of specialization, for example, the methodology of teaching math or a foreign language. Teachers specialize at least in two subjects and traditional pairs are as follows: language/literature, math/physics, chemistry/biology, English/German (or French as a second foreign language), and history/geography. Another source of teachers comes from the professional community. For example, engineers would teach drafting and accountants would teach mathematics. In vocational schools, professionals teach their own specialties.